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NOTICE. 

This book will be sent free of charge to any fanner who 
applies for it. 

Potash in Agriculture, 

Potash and Paying Crops, 

Stassfurt Industry, 

are other publications valuable to farmers, copies of which 
Will be sent free on application by addressing 

THE GERMAN KALI WORKS, 

91 Nassau Street, New York City. 



FARMER'S 
GUIDE 









PUBLISHED BY 

THE GERMAN KALI WORKS 
Q} Nassau Street, New York. 



OW^v 2, 



By transfer 
N 8 '06 



c^3 



I N DEX. 



PAGE. 

Introduction 7 

Explanation of the Full Tables 20 

Alfalfa 26 

Almond 27 

Apples 27 

Artichoke 28 

Asparagus 29 

Bananas.. . 30 

Barley — 30 

Beans — Castor Oil 32 

Beans— Horse 32 

Beans — Snap 33 

Beets — Garden 34 

Beets— Sugar 34 

Benne — Sesamum 35 

Blackberry 36 

Buckwheat 36 

Cabbage 37 

Cane— Sugar 39 

Carrots .. 39 

Cassava 40 

Celery 41 

Cherry 42 

Chicory 43 

Clover — Alsike 43 

Clover — Crimson 44 

Clover — Japan 47 

Clover — Red 45 

Clover— White 46 

Cocoanut Palm 48 

Corn— Indian 48 

Corn— Sweet 50 

Cotton 50 

Cranberries 52 

Cucumbers and Melons 53 

Currants 54 

Egg Plant 55 

Endive 56 

Figs .. 56 

Flax 57 

Ginger 58 

Gooseberry . 58 

Grapes 59 



INDEX. 

PAGE, 

Grass Lands — Permanent 60 

Grass for Lawns 62 

Grass for Meadows 63 

Hemp 66 

Hops 66 

Horse Radish 67 

Lentils 68 

Lettuce 68 

Lucerne 69 

Lupine 69 

Mangel Wurzel 71 

Millet 71 

Mint 72 

Mustard 72 

Nursery Stock J0 g 

Oats 73 

Olive 75 

Onions 76 

Orange and Lemon 77 

Parsnips 79 

Peach and Almond 79 

Peanut 81 

Pears , 82 

Peas— Cow Peas 82 

Peas— Green 84 

Pineapple 85 

Plums 87 

Potatoes— Irish 87 

Potatoes— Sweet 90 

Pumpkins 91 

Quince 91 

Radishes 92 

Ramie 93 

Rape 93 

Raspberries . . .. 94 

Rhubarb '* 95 

Rice. ][\[ 96 

Ruta Bagas 97 

Rye '. '. 97 

Soiling 98 

Sorghum... * x oo 

Spinach ' ' " ^ 

Spurry j02 

Squashes and Pumpkins 102 

Strawberry ^3 

Sunflower 105 

Tobacco 106 

Tomatoes 107 

Trees and Shrubs in Nursery 109 

Turnips m 

Vetch m 

Wheat ...... ............ 112 

Distances Recommended for Planting 115 

Number of Plants per acre at various distances 116 

Approximate Average Analysis of the Fresh Orange 117 

Extracts about Potash Fertilization Appendix. 

Illustrations Showing Results of Experiments. . End of Book. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Scientific Facts Concerning Rational Manuring. 

All plants in order to grow to best ad- 
vantage require light, heat, air, water, cul- 
tivation and a fertile soil. 



By a fertile soil is meant a soil capable of 
producing rich and abundant crops. Two 
factors are requisite to a fertile soil : first, a 
physical condition adapted to the crop to be 
grown, and second, a sufficiency of the plant 
food called for by such crop. 



But fertilizer alone will not insure a good 
crop. The fertilizer that feeds the plant 
also feeds the weed. A more perfect culti- 
vation will therefore be necessary. An 
abundance of plant food, a careful cultiva- 
tion and a favorable season must all unite 
to produce a rich harvest. 



It should be the object of the farmer to 
select the soil best adapted to the crop to be 



INTRODUCTION. 



grown, and then to furnish the crop with an 
abundance of its favorite and essential food. 
The truly economical farmer will feed zvith 
a generous hand the growing plant. 



Every crop removes from the soil a portion 
of the plant food contained therein. Con- 
tinuous cropping will in time exhaust the 
richest soil, unless the farmer restores the 
nutritive elements that have been removed. 



Science and practical farming have dem- 
onstrated that generous living is as neces- 
sary to the plant as to the animal. Poor 
pasturage will produce a worthless stock. 
Worn out and exhausted soil will produce a 
spindling and scanty crop. 



Agricultural chemistry has demonstrated 
that plant life calls imperatively for three 
prime forms of plant food. These three are 
phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen. 



The annual products of the farm (grain, 
grass, roots, milk, etc.) remove from the 
soil large quantities of nitrogen, potash and 
phosphoric acid. A portion of these food 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

elements is returned to the soil in the form 
of stable manure, but the remainder have 
been lost, and the productive capacity of the 
farm can only be maintained by the use of 
commercial fertilizers. 



To illustrate this fact, let us suppose a 
farm, on which, during three years, crops of 
wheat, potatoes and corn have been raised, 
and where 26,700 pounds, or about 13^ 
tons, of stable manure has been applied 
per acre. An examination of the compo- 
sition of the crops removed and of the 
manure applied will show the following 
decrease in fertility at the end of the period: 

Phos. 
Crops. Potash. Acid. Nitrogen. 

lbs. lbs. lbs. 

Wheat, 30 bu. (1802 lbs. grain 

2671 lbs. straw) 30 22 44 

Potatoes, 300 bu., 16,800 lbs 
Corn, 12 tons, 24,000 lbs. . 



Total plant food removed 
Total plant food supplied by 
13*4 tons stable manure, 



97 26 57 
79 36 9 8 



206 84 199 
168 69 134 
38 15 65 



Total loss of plant food . 

The tops or vines of field potatoes are so 
seldom removed from the field, that they 
are here considered as having been returned 
to the soil. 



IO INTRODUCTION. 

The actual condition of the soil would 
have been improved, had clover been intro- 
duced into this rotation and turned 
under as green manure, but this prac- 
tice is scarcely commendable in a rota- 
tion of less than five years, and even then, it 
must be remembered that clover enriches 
the soil only in nitrogenous matter. The 
potash and phosphoric acid of the soil must 
inevitably be exhausted, unless the loss in 
these elements is made good from outside 
sources. 






From the fact that on most farms the sup- 
ply of stable manure is insufficient, it be- 
comes necessary to increase the supply of 
plant food by buying ' ' commercial fer- 
tilizers. " 



PJwspJioric acid can best be supplied by 
u dissolved phosphates, " e. g., dissolved phos- 
phate rock, dissolved bone and dissolved 
bone black. In these prepared fertilizers 
the phosphoric acid is present in a soluble or 
available condition, and is readily assimilated 
by the plant, while in raw or unprepared 
phosphates, e. g. y ground phosphate rock, 
floats, ground bone, etc., the phosphoric acid 



INTRODUCTION. II 

is present in an insoluble or unavailable con- 
dition, and is therefore of little value as plant 
food. Phosphoric acid, from whatever source, 
when once available, is of equal value. No 
distinction as to value should be made with 
reference to the derivation of phosphoric 
acid. Phosphoric acid, in dissolved rock, is 
equal in value to phosphoric acid in dissolved 
bone or dissolved bone black. 



The greatest potash supply of the world is 
found at Stassfurt, Germany, where soluble 
potash salts are mined in large quantities. 
Muriate of potash is the cheapest form of 
potash. This is usually the best source of 
potash, except in special cases, where chlo- 
rine may injure the quality of the crop, such 
as tobacco and oranges. For such crops sul- 
phate of potash or sulphate of potash magne- 
sia should be used. Kainit is another form 
of potash salt, containing chlorine, and is 
specially valuable upon sandy soils. Kainit 
is valued not only for its fertilizing prop- 
erties, but for its power of destroying 
insect life and curing plant disease. It is a 
most valuable fertilizer when applied to the 
cotton crop on the sandy soils of the South 
Atlantic coast. 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

Wood ashes is also a valuable source of pot- 
ash. The amount of potash in wood ashes, 
however, is small and variable. Wood ashes, 
if produced upon the farm, should always be 
used, but they should never be bought out- 
side, as the price of the potash contained in 
them is, as a rule, far too high to justify 
tJieir purchase. 



One fact has been clearly demonstrated 
by scientific research in plant life : * ' Soda 
cannot take the place of potash as a form 
of plant food." Plants cannot grow 
without potash, but are indifferent to 
the presence of soda. They can prosper 
when soda is entirely absent, but no amount 
of soda will produce growth when potash is 
wanting. 



The most important materials supplying 
nitrogen which are largely used in the com- 
position of commercial, fertilizers are the 
following : Nitrate of soda and sulphate of 
ammonia ^va. which the nitrogen is in a soluble 
or available form. Nitrate of soda is particu- 
larly adapted for top dressing during the 
growing season, and is the quickest acting 
nitrogenous fertilizer. Dried blood, tankage, 



INTRODUCTION. 13 

concentrated tankage, azotine, fish scrap, 
castor pomace and cotton seed meal repre- 
sent a form of nitrogenous fertilizer where 
the nitrogen is more slowly available. These 
substances must therefore be applied early 
to produce the best effects. 



Leguminous crops, such as peas, beans, 
alfalfa, vetches, clover, etc., gather their 
nitrogen from the air. An application of 
nitrogenous fertilizers to such crops is un- 
necessary. Only potash and phosphoric 
acid need be supplied. 



We should take advantage of this property 
of leguminous crops, and obtain from them 
a portion (and sometimes even all) of the 
nitrogen required by other crops. If plowed 
under, the legumes will not only furnish 
nitrogen to the soil, but also humus, which 
improves its physical condition. This method 
is called "green manuring." 



The heavier the growth of the clover or 
pea crop, the larger will be the amount of 
valuable nitrogen which it will gather A 
rank growth can be obtained on the poorest 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

soils, by the liberal use of phosphoric acid 
and potash. 

On sandy land and in a hot climate it is 
not advisable to plow under a heavy growth 
of these plants while in a green condition. 
If the soil is very deficient in vegetable 
matter, the crop should be allowed to die 
upon the land and then be plowed under in 
cool weather. If it is necessary, however, 
to plow under a green crop, a good dressing 
of lime, not less than 30 bushels per acre, 
should be applied to prevent injurious 
souring of the land. 



When the soil is fairly well supplied with 
vegetable matter, it is not economical to 
plow under the entire growth of a crop of 
peas or clover, since the feeding value of 
such crop is greater than its value as a 
fertilizer. 



Barnyard or stable manure is regarded 
by many farmers as a "complete fertilizer." 
This is correct only so far as it contains all 
three of the fertilizer ingredients, but these 
ingredients do not exist therein in the pro- 
portions required by most crops. Stable 



INTRODUCTION. 1 5 

mantire contains proportionately too much 
nitrogen and not enough phosphoric acid 
and potash to be considered a ''complete 
fertilizer. " 

By a proper rotation of crops and by 
"green manuring," stable manure can, in 
fact, be dispensed with, and in some cases 
such a course is even preferable. The old 
saying that stable manure is indispensable to 
successful farming, is not now regarded as 
an axiom. 

A manure containing an excess of nitro- 
gen will unduly increase the growth of leaf 
and straw at the expense of fruit or grain. 
To avoid such result, stable manure should 
always be supplemented with artificial fer- 
tilizers containing phosplioric acid and potash. 



Stable manure, when allowed to decom- 
pose by exposure to the air, loses a portion 
of its nitrogen in the form of volatile ammo- 
nia. This loss can be prevented by scatter- 
ing kainit over the surface of the manure 
heap as it accumulates. 



The amount of kainit which should be 
added to fresh stable manure to prevent loss 



l6 INTRODUCTION. 

of ammonia through heating, is one pound 
per day for each cow or horse, or for eight 
head of sheep. The kainit will save more 
than its cost in the value of the nitrogen 
which it retains, and will possess its original 
value as a potash food. 



Swampy and peaty soils, which consist 
largely of humus, and which, as a rule, are 
rich in nitrogen, derive only slight benefit 
from stable manure. Such soils need lime, 
potash, and often phosphoric acid. The ap- 
plication of these forms of fertilizer is fol- 
lowed by largely increased crops. 



Lime improves the physical condition of 
such soils, and by hastening the decomposi- 
tion of such organic matter present, increases 
the available supply of plant food. Lime 
finds also a most valuable office in the 
"sweetening " of sour soils and in changing 
heavy soils to a light and porous texture. 
It is of little value on soils deficient in humus 
or vegetable mould. Marl, chalk , quick- 
lime and ground oyster shells are available 
sources of lime. Lime and magnesia may 
be classed among the secondary forms of 
plant food. 



INTRODUCTION. 17 

Stable manure should be applied in the 
autumn. When spread in the autumn upon 
a sod intended for corn the following spring, 
and allowed to lie upon the surface, the re- 
sults will be better than when spread in the 
spring, or when spread and plowed under 
in the autumn. 



Potash salts should be applied in the fall 
and winter. Potash will not leach through 
the soil. If application at such time is not 
practicable, it should be made a short time 
prior to sowing or planting. An early appli- 
cation of muriate of potash and kainit will 
be advantageous, for the following reason: 
The potash itself will be fixed by the soil, 
and the chlorine present, which is injurious 
to a few crops, such as tobacco, will be 
washed away. 

Phosphoric acid should be applied in the 
fall, especially in its less soluble forms, such 
as ground bone, etc. The soluble forms of 
phosphoric acid, such as dissolved rock, dis 
solved bone black, etc., may be applied in 
the spring. While phosphoric acid will not 
leach through heavy soils, it may leach 
through very sandy soils. An application 



l8 INTRODUCTION. 

in the spring to such soils is therefore 
preferable. 



Phosphoric acid and potash will prove of 
slight value when applied as " top dressing " 
during the growing season. When so ap- 
plied these fertilizers will stay on the sur- 
face and out of reach of the roots of the 
plants. 



Phosphoric acid and potash are " fixed" 
or retained by the soil. They are not 
volatile, nor do they leach through the soil. 
It is quite different with nitrogen. When 
organic matter, exposed to the air, decom- 
poses, a portion of the nitrogen present vola- 
tilizes and is lost into the atmosphere. The 
remainder, unless absorbed by vegetation, 
is finally washed away. Nitrogen in the 
form of nitrates readily leaches through the 
soil. Nitrate of soda, therefore, may well 
be applied as a top dressing during the grow- 
ing season. Fertilizers containing fish scrap, 
tankage, dried blood, etc., should be applied 
in the fall. They are then decomposed and 
the nitrogen present converted into soluble 
forms for the following season. 



INTRODUCTION. 19 

The " commercial fertilizers" now in the 
market are the most desirable supplements 
and substitutes for stable manure that can 
be obtained by the farmer. In complete 
fertilizers the nitrogen, phosphoric acid and 
potash are skillfully compounded in various 
proportions. They are in a finely ground 
and thoroughly commingled condition, can be 
applied by drilling, and can be easily mixed 
with the soil. Their value is accurately de- 
termined by the various agricultural stations, 
and the interests of the farmer carefully pro- 
tected. 




Explanation to the Following Pages. 



The kind and amount of fertilizer needed 
by a certain crop upon a certain soil, or that 
can be applied with profit, can best be deter- 
mined by "experiment," and depends not 
only upon the amount of plant food which 
the soil already contains, but also upon the 
physical condition of the soil, and the nature 
of the previous crop. 



We can therefore offer only ' ' suggestions " 
on this point, since it is the worst sort of 
quackery to prescribe "doses" for soils. It 
is hoped that these suggestions may be of 
value in a general way. These tables are 
not to be regarded as infallible rules, but as 
suggestions, founded on a knowledge of the 
needs of particular plants. 



The amounts of the fertilizers recom- 
mended for the various crops are meant to 
be average quantities upon an average soil, 
and the amount should be varied according 
to the requirements of the soil and in accord- 
ance with the prevailing conditions of each 
farm. 



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26 ALFALFA. 

ALFALFA. 
(lucerne chili clover.) 

Soil. — Alfalfa shows its best development 
only on a soil having a mellow subsoil, so 
that the long tap root can strike down. The 
soil should contain an ample supply of lime. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Lucerne should 
be sown after the soil has been devoted 
for a year or two to clean cultivated crops 
requiring the destruction of weeds, for, in its 
early growth, it is quite feeble and easily 
choked by weeds. It can be sown with 
winter grown crops, but is best sown alone. 
Like other legumes, it does not need nitro- 
genous manures, but should be well supplied 
with phosphoric acid and potash. Dressings 
of fertilizer should be repeated annually in 
the autumn or winter. 

Use per acre 450 pounds of a fertilizer 
containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent. 

Potash, 14 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Alfalfa 
can never take the place of red clover on the 
farms of the Eastern States, but has proved 
of the greatest value in the arid region of 
the West and Southwest. It is a perennial 
plant which lasts many years, when once 



ALMOND AND APPLES. 27 

established and well supplied with phos- 
phoric acid and potash. Alfalfa can be cut 
for hay several times during the summer, 
but it is not suited for pasturing since it 
bloats cattle badly. 

ALMOND. 
(see peach.) 

APPLES. 

Soil. — The apple thrives best in a north- 
ern latitude, or sometimes in mountainous 
locations, and prefers a strong, clay loam, 
rich in humus, but well drained and free 
from stagnant water. ( 

Fertilizer. — The ashes of fruit trees show 
large quantities of lime and potash, indicat- 
ing that these elements are much needed. 
It is not advisable to apply a large percent- 
age of nitrogen, as a rank and unfruitful 
growth is thus produced. For an apple or- 
chard a good annual top dressing, per acre, 
is 500 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 

Potash, 11 " 

Use nitrogenous fertilizers only, in case the 
growth of the wood is insufficient. An ap- 
plication of 200 pounds of nitrate of soda in 
such case will be appropriate. 



28 ARTICHOKE. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The trees 
should be set out 35 to 40 feet apart each 
way. While the trees are small, crops of 
vegetables may be grown among them, and 
the orchard should be well cultivated. When 
the trees have grown to a fair size, the land 
should be seeded to grass, which should be 
mown several times during the season, and 
allowed to decay upon the ground. Do not 
try to grow hay and fruit in the same field, 
but keep the land exclusively for fruit. Old 
orchards fail mainly because the soil is ex- 
hausted. Like annual crops, trees require 
the application of fertilizers. 

ARTICHOKE. 

Soil. — A warm soil, moderately rich in 
humus. 

Fertilizer. — Use per acre 600 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 8 

Nitrogen, 3 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — This is a 
vegetable worthy of more attention than it 
generally receives. If it is well cared for it 
will produce a remarkable yield of tubers, 
and furnish a valuable food for farm animals 
and also for the table. 



ASPARAGUS. 29 

ASPARAGUS. 

Soil. — Asparagus needs a light loam or a 
sandy soil ; heavy soils will produce a poor 
quality and quantity of crop. 

Fertilizer. — As this crop monopolizes the 
land for many years, the soil should be well 
prepared, and its fertility maintained by an- 
nual dressings. Large amounts of kainit 
are essential for this crop. Some growers 
have obtained best results by the annual use 
of one ton of kainit per acre. The fertilizer 
used should be applied during the winter. 
As a fertilizer, use per acre 500 pounds of a 
fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 5 " 

Nitrogen, 4^ " 

and apply in addition 700 pounds kainit and 
200 pounds nitrate of soda. It will pay to 
fertilize asparagus liberally, as this will pro- 
mote quick growth and produce large stalks, 
commanding a higher price in the market. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — It is 
worthy of note that many growers use com- 
mon salt successfully upon asparagus. The 
chief virtue of salt seems to be its property 
of keeping down weeds for a while. All the 
benefit of salt can be obtained by the use of 



30 BANANAS AND BARLEY. 

kainit, which contains not only 30 to 35 per 
cent, of salt, but 12 to 14 per cent, of pot- 
ash. 

BANANAS. 
Soil. — A level, moist, sandy soil, rich in 
humus, is best suited for the banana. A 
location near the sea is most favorable. 

Fertilizer. — Under the above conditions, 
nitrogen is not needed. If the old stems are 
cut down and allowed to decay upon the soil, 
a banana plantation will wonderfully increase 
the fertility of the land. Lime and potash 
must be liberally supplied. Use per acre 
800 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 1 1 per cent. 
Potash, 6 « " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Several 
species of "musa" are grown under the 
names of "banana" and "plantain" in the 
Tropics, and to some extent in the southern 
coast States. 

BARLEY. 
Soil. — A strong clay loam, thoroughly 
drained, is the most suitable soil for barley. 
The soil must be one in which plant food is 
properly proportioned, as an excess of nitro- 
gen causes the straw to become heavy and 



BARLEY. 31 

fall or lodge. Low, sandy soils will not pro- 
duce barley of good quality. Heavy, wet, 
clayey soils are likewise unsuitable for this 
crop. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — The proper place 
for the barley in the farm rotation is after 
a well manured crop of potatoes or Indian 
corn. The manure that has been used for 
these will be well decomposed and mingled 
with the soil. Such crops will usually leave 
sufficient nitrogen in the soil for the barley. 
If, however, the soil should need a fertilizer \ 
use per acre 500 lbs. of a fertilizer contain- 
ing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent. 

Potash, 12 " 

Nitrogen, 1 " 

Use this fertilizer by broadcasting in the 
early spring. Prof. Wagner's experiments 
have shown that barley is very responsive to 
potash fertilizers, and a larger amount than 
that given above may be advantageous. 
'" General Notes and Suggestions. — There are 
three species of barley grown: the two 
rowed (Hordeum distichum), the six rowed 
(Hordeum vulgare) and the beardless Hor- 
denm trificreatum.) In raising barley for 
brewing purposes, especial attention should 



32 BEANS CASTOR OIL AND HORSE. 

be paid to proper manuring. An excess of 
nitrogen will injure the quality of the grain, 
but a large amount of potash and a proper 
proportion of phosphoric acid should alwa)^s 
be provided. 

BEANS-CASTOR OIL. 

Soil. — A light sand or sandy loam soil is 
the most suitable for this crop. 

Fertilizer. — Too much nitrogen in the soil 
induces an enormous growth of the plant 
without a corresponding yield of seed. If 
the soil is poor, use, per acre, 400 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 

Potash, 9 * ' 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The plant 
forms a tree in India, but in colder climates 
it is an annual. It can be grown as far 
north as Southern Illinois. It yields the oil 
commercially known as castor oil. 

BEANS-HORSE. 

Soil. — Heavy clay or loam is best suited 
for the horse bean ; it also succeeds very well 
on reclaimed swamp land or on dried up 
pond bottoms, and upon moist, sandy soil, 
rich in humus. 



BEANS SNAP. 33, 

Rotation and Fertilizers Recommended. — 
This crop does not require a highly cultivated 
soil, and can follow directly after heavy 
feeding grains. Use per acre 400 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 

Potash, 10 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Horse 
beans are not raised to a great extent in the 
United States, but are grown largely in 
Europe. This crop, like other leguminous 
crops, improves the soil by enriching it in 
nitrogen and humus. 

BEANS-SNAP. 

Soil. — Light, sandy loam. 
Rotation and Fertilizer Recommended. — It 
is generally sown as a crop succeeding early 
cabbages. Use per acre 700 lbs. of a fer- 
tilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 12 " 

Nitrogen, 2 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — This crop 
is largely grown in the South. If the beans 
are to be picked while green, a richer manur- 
ing will be advisable ; again, although the 
bean is a "nitrogen gatherer," an applica- 



34 BEETS GARDEN AND SUGAR. 

tion of nitrogen will cause the pod to grow 
more rapidly and prove profitable. If grown 
for seed, nitrogen should be omitted and 
only potash and phosphoric acid applied. 

BEETS-GARDEN. 

Soil. — Sandy loam or light clay. 
Fertilizer. — Use per acre 400 lbs. of a fer- 
tilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 10 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Careful 
cultivation is essential. 

BEETS-SUGAR. 

Soil. — Beets for sugar should be grown on 
deep, mellow clay loam, but good crops can 
also be grown on fertile sandy soils, rich in 
humus. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Beets can follow 
almost any crop, but preferably grain crops. 
They will do well on land on which corn was 
raised the previous year. The land should 
be manured and plowed in the autumn 
after the corn is harvested. They should 
not, however, be grown too often in succes- 
sion on the same soil. In the absence 



BENNE (SESAMUM). 35 

of stable manure, a complete fertilizer 
should be used, and even in case stable 
manure has been applied, it should be sup- 
plemented by a liberal application of potash. 
The following application will be ample per 
acre for beets, 1,000 lbs. of a fertilizer con- 
taining : 

Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent. 

Potash, 7 " 

Nitrogen, 6 " " 

It is best to use sulphate of potash for 
sugar beets, but if the beets are not intended 
for the production of sugar, muriate of 
potash can be used in the place of the 
sulphate. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Beets are 
largely grown in Europe for sugar making, 
and also for cattle feeding. For the latter 
purpose, the variety called "mangels" is 
used. In this country, ensilage, made from 
green corn, has largely taken the place of 
beets for stock food. 

BENNE (SESAMUM). 

Soil. — A rich loam abounding in vegetable 
matter suits this plant. 

Fertilizer. — Heavy manuring with stable 
manure is desirable, or, in place of it, green 



36 BLACKBERRY AND BUCKWHEAT. 

manuring. Use per acre 550 lbs. of a fer- 
tilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 4 per cent. 
Potash, 4 

Nitrogen, 5 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Lime the 
land once in five years, and plow under crops 
of cow peas. 

BLACKBERRY. 

Soil. — Sandy or gravelly loam, well 
drained, but with sufficient humus to retain 
water in time of drought. 

Fertilizer. — Use per acre 650 lbs. of a fer- 
tilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 9 " 

Nitrogen, 3 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Like all 
berries, they should be fertilized with coarse 
horse manure or with litter. Suckers and 
weeds should be kept under control. 

BUCKWHEAT. 

Soil. — This plant does well on poorer 
soils, both light and heavy. It grows upon 
sandy as well as upon peaty soil. When a 
farmer has low, undrained places which can- 



CABBAGE. 37 

not be plowed in the spring, he may plant 
them to advantage with buckwheat. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Buckwheat can 
follow grain or hoed crops. If sown 
upon dry and poor upland soil, it will 
pay to use some fertilizers upon it ; but 
on low, black lands, which suit it best, these 
are not needed. On poor lands 300 lbs. of 
a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 8 " 

Nitrogen, 3 ' ' 

will give good results. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Buck- 
wheat is sometimes sown in July as a shade 
crop to protect crimson clover, and if used 
for this purpose, it will pay to apply 
phosphate and potash in double quantities. 
The- Japanese variety has been found much 
superior to the old sort. 

CABBAGE. 
(kale, cauliflower and other varieties of 
brassica oleracea.) 

Soil. — Cabbages grow well on mellow, 
fertile soil. They are, however, particularly 
well adapted to reclaimed meadows and 



38 CABBAGE. 

turned -under sod lands. Under all circum- 
stances the crop requires an abundance of 
moisture, though decidedly wet soils must 
be avoided. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Any crop that 
leaves the soil in a good condition can pre- 
cede cabbage. Cabbage should not follow 
itself for any length of time, as it is liable to 
take and transmit plant disease, and to be 
attacked by insects. Use per acre 1,500 lbs. 
of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 9 " " 

Nitrogen, 4 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Early 
cabbages are an important product in the 
Southern States ; they are set out in Novem- 
ber. The early cabbage crop, being grown 
at the season when the nitrification is not 
active, must be specially supplied with an 
abundance of the most stimulating fertiliz- 
ers. The late crop of cabbages planted in 
July or August do not need such heavy 
manuring. Late cabbages should be planted 
on heavier soil than the earlier cabbages. 
The late crops should always, if possible, be 
planted on the inverted sod, probably clover 
stubble after the hay has been cut. 



CANE SUGAR AND CARROTS. 39 

CANE-SUGAR. 

Soil. — Deep, sandy loam, bottom lands, 
alluvial, "canebrake." 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — This plant can 
follow cotton or indigo, also rice and grain 
crops. Use per acre 750 lbs. of a fertilizer 
containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 10 " 

Nitrogen, 3 ' ' 

Use bagasse ashes from cane mills. Avoid 
fertilizers containing chlorine, also avoid 
fresh stable manures. On very heavy soils 
an occasional application of lime is bene- 
ficial. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — If re- 
claimed, salt or brackish marsh land is to be 
planted to cane, crops with heavy foliage 
should be grown on the land for several 
previous seasons. 

CARROTS. 

Soil. — Sandy loam is recommended for 
carrots, as they stand dry weather well and 
require a warm soil. Carrots are injured by 
too much moisture. 

Rotation aitd Fertilizer. — Carrots should 
follow some crop that has been heavily 



40 CARROTS AND CASSAVA. 

manured with stable manure the previous 
year, and then they need only to be well 
supplied with phosphoric acid and potash. 
Direct application of stable manure is not 
advisable, as it is apt to render the roots 
forked and unsightly. When the land has 
not been heavily manured the previous year, 
use per acre 500 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 
Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 10 " 

Nitrogen, 3 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Carrots 
form a valuable addition to the food of horses 
and cows in winter. The yellow variety in- 
tended for the table should be planted in a 
rich loam. 

CASSAVA. 

Soil. — Cassava thrives best on sandy soil 
full of humus. 

Fertilizer. — It should have a full supply of 
potash, like all plants which store large 
quantities of starch. Use per acre 300 lbs. 
of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 10 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Cassava 
is a tuberous rooted plant belonging to the 



CASSAVA AND CELERY. 41 

Euphorbiacece^ or Spurge family. The plant 
has a general resemblance to the castor oil 
plant, to which it is related. This species is 
attaining considerable importance in the 
South as a source of starch. The large, 
fleshy roots give a large quantity of starch, 
which is sold under the name tapioca. The 
plant thrives well in all the Southern States 
at far north as North Carolina, but is most 
at home in the Florida peninsula. It is 
grown from cuttings of the stem, which are 
kept buried in winter. From its enormous 
yield this plant ought to constitute the chief 
source of the manufacture of glucose. 

CELERY. 

Soil. — Celery is grown best upon moist, 
low lands. A black, peaty soil will give fine 
looking celery. The best quality can only 
be grown upon a moist, clay loam. Land in- 
tended for celery should be so situated, that 
it can be readily irrigated, for no plant suf- 
fers so severely from drought. 

Rotation and Fertiliser. — Stable manure 
applied directly to the crop is apt to make 
rusty celery. It is better to plant celery 
after a crop of early cabbage that has been 
heavily manured. In this case only a light 



42 CELERY AND CHERRY. 

application of fertilizer will be needed. 
The crop may follow a crop of early grass, 
since, for winter use, celery need not be set 
out until August or even September in the 
South. Use per acre 700 lbs. of a fertilizer 
containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 7 " 

Nitrogen, 4 " 

On swamp lands, increase potash one-half, 
and diminish nitrogen in same proportion. 
General Notes and Suggestions. — If the 
crop is grown on muck or swamp land, it 
should be so thoroughly drained that per- 
manent water never rises within three feet 
of the surface. As such soils are rich in 
nitrogen and proportionately poor in potash, 
they should be well supplied with the latter. 

CHERRY. 

Soil. — Cherries thrive on any dry and 
fertile upland soil. 

Fertilizer. — The treatment recommended 
for the peach will in a general way be suit- 
able for the cherry, except that it is better 
to put the orchard in grass, as in the case of 
apples and pears. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — In the 



CHICORY AND CLOVER ALSIKE. 43 

Northern States, cherries should be budded 
on mazard stocks; in the South, always on 
mahaleb stocks. The sour cherries, dukes 
and morellos, do well on the southern coasts ; 
but it is a useless attempt to raise sweet 
cherries in the South, except in the Pied- 
mont and mountain sections. 

CHICORY. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Chicory, 
so far as we are aware, is not cultivated in 
the United States. It has been introduced 
and is now a troublesome weed in many 
sections. While to some extent the sale of 
the roots might be a source of profit, the 
plant so easily becomes a very troublesome 
weed that we would not encourage its culture 
when general cropping is pursued. It suc- 
ceeds best upon a fertile limestone clay loam ; 
and like all tuberous rooted plants needs 
liberal supplies of potash. 

CLOVER-ALSIKE. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — This is a 
perennial clover that grows best on wet soils 
where other clovers do not thrive. It is a 
good plant to mix with redtop, fowl meadow 
grass and other grasses that like moist land. 
Fertilize the same as other clovers. 



44 CLOVER CRIMSON. 

CLOVER-CRIMSON. 

Soil. — A light, sandy loam is recom- 
mended. It thrives even on lighter soil than 
is adapted to red clover. It requires little 
humus and comparatively little moisture. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — The clover may 
be sown after grains and root crops. Use 
per acre 600 lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 
Potash, 12 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — This is 
an annual clover of recent introduction in 
American agriculture, but it seems to be of 
much value particularly in the sandy lands 
of the Southern States, where the perennial 
red clover burns out in summer. It is also 
of great value to supplement the red clover 
at the North, and as a quickly grown foliage 
crop. It withstands the cold of winter 
better than the red clover, and its feeding 
value as hay is much higher. It is a good 
plan to sow it with buckwheat in midsum- 
mer, or it can be sown in the North in corn 
late in the season. In the South it should 
be sown in August or September, and it is 
better to sow oats sparingly with it to 
prevent the young plants from being withered 
by the sun. This clover should be cut for 



CLOVER RED. 45 

hay as soon as fairly in bloom, as it soon 
becomes woody when the blooms elongate. 

CLOVER-RED. 

Soil, — Deep clay loam is the soil for red 
clover, but if a supply of mineral food is 
present it will thrive on other soils. Lime- 
stone clays are especially favorable to this 
clover, but it will grow even on peaty soil. It 
will not thrive on newly broken prairie soils. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Clover should be 
grown in rotation alternately with grain, 
cotton or tobacco. An addition of lime, if 
in the form of carbonate or sulphate (plaster), 
is beneficial to its growth. On soils which 
are deficient in lime, a top dressing of one 
ton per acre of fresh water-slaked lime has 
a wonderful effect. It is usually a waste of 
money to apply nitrogenous fertilizers to red 
clover, since it is one of the class of plants 
(legumes) which capture and fix in the soil 
the atmospheric nitrogen. For this reason, 
clover is a so-called "soil improver," and it 
can be raised continuously in rotation on the 
same land, provided the necessary supply of 
phosphoric acid and potash is given. Use 
per acre 500 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent. 

Potash, 14 " " 



46 CLOVER WHITE. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — This 
clover is an almost invariable crop in the 
different systems of rotation now practiced. 
It is not only one of the best fodder crops, 
but also one of the best for green manuring. 
Clover can be sown, and usually is sown, 
with small grain, and it can also be sown 
alone with great success. It can be profit- 
ably sown in growing corn at the last work- 
ing, and in this way we can gain a season in 
the crop, and use it as a preparatory crop 
for wheat the following year, with a certainty 
of getting a better crop of wheat than if the 
wheat immediately followed the corn. In 
the Northern States clover usually lasts only 
two years. On clay soils in the South it will 
last longer. On sandy soils in the South it 
rarely succeeds, and its place can be taken 
by cow peas in summer and crimson clover 
in winter. 

CLOVER-WHITE. 

Soil. — The soil recommended is the same 
as for red clover, except that a soil with 
more humus is preferable. White clover 
thrives on prairie soils, where red clover 
cannot be grown. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — The same as for 
red clover. 



CLOVER JAPAN. 47 

General Notes and Suggestions. — White 
clover is inferior to red, where the latter 
can be grown, for all purposes except pas- 
turage and bee feeding. It is useful to mix 
with grasses for permanent pasture. It is 
not commonly sown, however, in this 
country, for it comes in naturally in all per- 
manent grass lands. On lands used for 
pasturing horses it is not desirable, since it 
causes a salivation or slobbering in horses. 

CLOVER-JAPAN. 

This plant has completely overrun the 
country, from Virginia southward, since the 
war. Particularly on moist clay soils it has 
proved to be a valuable plant for making 
good pasturage on waste lands. It is not 
suitable for regular crop rotation. The plant 
will thrive in the densest woods, and by its 
use the woodlands may be made valuable 
pasture. Japan clover has almost banished 
broomsedge in the mountainous districts of 
North Carolina. It is an annual, and seeds 
late in the fall, so that probably it will never 
become naturalized much further north than 
its present limits. While it will grow on the 
poorest land, it is greatly benefited by pot- 
ash and phosphoric acid. In the far South 



48 COCOANUT PALM, AND CORN INDIAN. 

on moist clay soils it can be grown for hay, 
but elsewhere it is only useful for summer 
pasture. 

GOCOANUT PALM. 

Soil. — The cocoanut palm does not thrive 
away from the sea coast, and needs a sandy, 
moist soil, with plenty of vegetable matter. 

Fertilizer. — The only fertilizing material 
needed will be the seaweed, which is conve- 
nient and abundant, and an occasional dress- 
ing of lime and kainit. 

General Notes and Suggestions — The cocoa- 
nut palm can only be grown to advantage 
in one locality of the United States. This 
is along the seashore of the eastern side of 
the Florida peninsula, south of Jupiter inlet. 

CORN-INDIAN. 

Soil, — A mellow loam, inclining more to 
sand than clay, is the most suitable soil, and 
if abounding in vegetable mould, it is par- 
ticularly favorable. 

Rotation and Fertilizer — A sod of clover or 
meadow grass, upon which farm manure has 
been used during the previous year as top 
dressing, is the best possible preparation for 
this crop. With such a preparation it will 



CORN INDIAN. 49 

not pay to purchase nitrogen, since the 
growth and culture of corn is during the hot 
season, when bacterial nitrification is active 
in the organic matter of the soil. A liberal 
application of phosphate and potash will pay 
particularly in the South, where it is the 
common practice to sow field peas in the 
corn in summer, or when the corn is to be 
followed by wheat, oats or barley. Use per 
acre 550 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 10 " 

Nitrogen, 2 Y / 2 " 

When planted on land destitute of sod, no 
plant grown on the farm will better repay 
heavy applications of stable manure, rein- 
forced by acid phosphate and potash. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Corn gives 
the best yield when planted in drills 4^2 feet 
apart, with the stalks thinned to 20 to 24 
inches in the row. On light, sandy soils in 
the South it is found necessary to give it 
more room, but even there, on strong, 
clay loam, with a buried sod, the bestcrop 
can be grown at the first-named distance. 
In the South, crimson clover may be sown 
among the corn to give a winter pasture. 
The land is turned under again in spring 



50 CORN — SWEET, AND COTTON. 

for corn, and if a good supply of phosphate 
and potash is given to the clover, the process 
can be repeated for years on a clay loam 
soil, without any diminution of the crop. 

CORN-SWEET. 

Soil. — A sandy or gravelly loam, a lime- 
stone soil, or alluvial soil is recommended. 
Rotation and Fertilizer. — Sweet corn may 
be planted after roots and vegetables, toma- 
toes, etc. Use per acre 500 lbs. of a fertil- 
izer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 9 ' ' 

Nitrogen, 3^ " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Northern 
localities are best adapted to this crop, as a 
far sweeter kernel is produced than in south- 
ern latitudes. 

COTTON. 

Soil. — Cotton prefers a somewhat sandy 
soil of a level character and well stored with 
humus. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — If the meal and 
hulls from the seed are returned to the soil, 
cotton is not an exhaustive crop. The prac- 
tice so long followed in the South of planting 



COTTON. 51 

the same land year after year with cotton 
has brought ruin to the soil, not because of 
the exhaustive nature of the crop, but be- 
cause of the constant washing of the soil by 
the heavy rains of the South and its exposure 
to the sun. With a carefully planned rota- 
tion of crops, and liberal fertilization, the 
cotton lands will not deteriorate. An appli- 
cation of a few hundred pounds of com- 
mercial fertilizer often makes all the differ- 
ence between a profitable crop and a total 
failure. 

On some soils kainit is a complete specific 
against red rust and some other troubles to 
which cotton is subject. On heavy clay 
soils stable manure is the best fertilizer, but 
as cotton farmers seldom keep much stock, 
this article is alway lacking. In some sec- 
tions farmers are of the opinion that cotton 
will not succeed after a crop of peas or 
clover, but in such cases it is usually a lack 
of potash that causes the failure. Use per 
acre 500 to 900 lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 3 

Nitrogen, 2 ' ' 

On sandy soils, deficient in potash, it will pay 
to add a liberal dressing of kainit. 



52 CRANBERRY. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — It is a 
good practice, now being adopted, to sow 
among the cotton at last cultivation 15 pounds 
per acre of crimson clover seed. This pre- 
vents the soil from washing in winter, and 
also fixes nitrogen for the succeeding crop. 

CRANBERRY. 

Soil. — The cranberry is a native of moist 
meadows, swamps and marshes. Its favorite 
soil is peat or muck, and under cultivation 
these natural requirements must be met. 
The artificial meadow should be covered 
with a coating of sand 3 to 6 inches deep. 

Fertilizer. — Because of its habits of growth 
and requirements, a fertilizer for cranberry 
must be peculiar. The plant first grows 
vine and afterwards fruit, the two growths 
differing materially in composition and con- 
sequent food requirements. For old bogs 
use per acre 600 lbs. of a fertilizer con- 
taining : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 10 " " 

Nitrogen, 2 " " 

For new bogs the best results are obtained 
when the quantity of nitrogen in the fertili- 
zer is materially increased. 



CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 53 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Success- 
ful artificial cranberry culture necessitates a 
water supply, so situated and under control 
that the entire meadow may be easily and 
rapidly flowed, not only for irrigation, but as 
protection against insects, disease and frost. 
This object is most easily attained by dam- 
ming the stream, producing the marsh at 
such an elevation that the water from the 
pond thus created may be conducted by gate 
or sluice to the meadow. 

CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 
(CANTALOUPES, watermelons.) 

Soil. — Cucumbers and melons should be 
planted on a sandy loam. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — The ground 
should be checked out and holes dug at the 
intersections. Fill these holes with a conic 
position of rotted leaf mold from the forest, 
and on each hill scatter a handful of the 
following fertilizer : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 8 

Nitrogen, 3 " 

or at about the rate of 1,200 lbs. per acre. 

Now cover with soil, and scatter seeds on 
hill, and cover. When up and well started 



54 • CURRANTS. 

out of reach of insects, thin to two plants 
to a hill, and apply a top dressing of a table- 
spoonful of nitrate of soda around each hill 
of plants. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Cucum- 
bers and muskmelons should be planted 
5x5 feet apart, and watermelons 10x10 feet. 
A too heavy application of nitrogenous 
manures to these crops will produce hollow 
fruit and a tendency to an early decay. Cot- 
ton seed meal for the first application of 
nitrogenous matter is preferable to nitrate 
of soda, because the former becomes more 
gradually available. 

CURRANTS. 

Soil. — A light clay loam, free from excess 
of water, also a deep, sandy loam, are rec- 
ommended. 

Fertilizer. — Use per acre 550 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 11 '* 

Nitrogen, 3 ■ ' 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Pruning 
the currant is too frequently neglected. Old 
wood should be carefully removed every 
autumn. 



EGG PLANT. 55 

EGG PLANT. 

Soil. — They require a light and exceed- 
ingly rich soil, and do best on land which 
has for years been cultivated for garden veg- 
etables, and heavily manured annually. A 
thin soil, no matter how well manured, will 
not probably grow a good crop of egg plant. 

Fertilizer. — Use per acre 2,000 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 5 per cent. 
Potash, 10 " 

Nitrogen, 4 ' ' 

Prepare the land well, and mark it out with 
a plow the distance named under " General 
Suggestions;" scatter the fertilizer in the 
furrows each way; then lap two furrows 
over the first ones, and set the plants at the 
crossings, having first flattened the ridges. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Egg 
plants are a profitable crop for the market 
gardener, when put on the market early and 
in good condition. The seed must be sown 
in boxes, in a warm greenhouse, early in 
March, potted off in small flower-pots, from 
which they can be turned into the open 
ground when it is warm, without any dis- 
turbance of the roots. Set he plants three 



56 ENDIVE AND FIGS. 

feet apart each way, and cultivate thoroughly 
and often. 

ENDIVE. 

Soil. — Loam; light, clay soil. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — (See Lettuce.) 



FIGS. 

Soil. — Figs prefer a level, moist, sandy 
soil, and one not too rich in nitroge- 
nous matters. They reach their best per- 
fection near the ocean or salt water estu- 
aries. 

Fertilizer. — Figs need but little fertilizing. 
A good dressing will be, per acre, 400 
lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 

Potash, 12 V 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Figs can 
be grown to great perfection in all of our 
Southern States. Figs need little pruning, 
except to keep them clean of the mass of 
suckers that are apt to grow from the crown 
of the roots. They are easily grown from 
ripe wood cuttings set in the ground in fall, 
and covered with forest leaves for protection 
in winter. 



FLAX. 57 

FLAX. 

Soil. — Flax needs a moist soil and an 
abundant rain fall, but dislikes a hot climate. 
It needs a fairly good soil. A good loam 
or a newly broken up sandy loam is pre- 
ferred. Upon very heavy clay or on very 
light, dry, sandy soils the flax yields poorly, 
and the fibre is of a poor quality. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Flax may follow 
any well manured crop except beets or 
turnips. It requires the finest preparation 
of the soil, and a soil free from weeds. 

Farm yard manures should not be used 
directly on the crop. Use per acre 400 lbs. 
of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 9 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Flax is 
grown either for the seed or for the fibre of 
its elongated bast cells. It is an annual 
plant, two feet high, with blue flowers. If 
sown for seed alone, ^ bushel of seed per 
acre is enough; if for seed and fibre, one 
bushel ; and if for fibre only, 1% to 2 bushels. 
The time for sowing is early spring. 



58 GINGER AND GOOSEBERRY. 

GINGER. 

Soil. — Ginger should have a deep, sandy, 
peaty soil, one which never suffers from 
drought, and yet is free from standing water- 

Fertilizer. — If planted in proper soil, only 
phosphoric acid and potash will be re- 
quired. Use per acre 500 lbs. of a fertilizer 
containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 
Potash, ii " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Ginger of 
commerce is the creeping rhizome or root- 
stock of the plant. It is largely grown in the 
West Indies, and can be grown in a number 
of the Southern States. Ginger is grown by 
cutting the rhizomes into short pieces, each 
with an eye or bud. 

GOOSEBERRY. 

Soil. — The soil and fertilizer for the goose- 
berry should be the same as for currants. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — This fruit 
is too frequently neglected or unknown. It 
is really a delicious berry, more easily grown 
than the currant, and by many considered 
superior. 



GRAPES. 59 

GRAPES. 

Soil. — Grapes need a well drained soil, and 
prefer a sandy, gravelly or rocky soil, and 
thrive on hillsides where few other plants 
will. Badly drained soil is not suited for the 
grape. • 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — In planting a 
vineyard upon new land it is best to precede 
with a crop of cow peas or of clover. In 
Europe, stable manure is largely used for 
grapes. In this country it is said that stable 
manure induces a rapid and poorly ripened 
wood, and a growth more ready to succumb 
to attacks of fungous diseases. We therefore 
prefer to grow leguminous crops between 
the grape rows (cow peas and crimson clover), 
and depend upon the clover for all nitrogen, 
but large applications of potash and phos- 
phoric acid are indispensable. Use per acre 
700 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent. 

Potash, 14 " 

and apply in the early spring. If no legumes 
are raised, use 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda in 
addition. Apply also once in five years 30 
bushels of fresh water slaked lime per 
acre. 



60 GRASS LANDS PERMANENT. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The 
grapes of the United States belong to many 
species. Most of those grown in the Eastern 
and Middle States belong to Vitis Labrusca, 
the fewer number to Vitis ^Estivalis and 
Vitis Riparia. In the South, Scof>pernong 
and other varieties of V. Rotundifolia are 
largely grown. Vitis Vinifera, the grape of 
Europe, Asia and Africa, is grown only under 
glass in the East, but is the principal grape 
of the Pacific Coast, New Mexico and Ari- 
zona. The best grape regions of the North 
are on the lake shores of Western New 
York and Lake Erie. The best section for 
grapes in the South is the long leaf pine sec- 
tion of North Carolina. 

GRASS LANDS. 
(permanent.) 

Fertilizer. — To keep a permanent pasture 
in good order, and to increase its capacity for 
supporting stock, the soil should be fed. As 
a top dressing, use per acre 700 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 

Potash, 12 

Apply this every second year, and it will 
constantly improve the pasturage. 



GRASS LANDS PERMANENT. 6l 

At frequent intervals during the summer 
a smoothing harrow should be run over the 
pasture to scatter the droppings of the ani- 
mals, and thus prevent the growth of bunches 
or tussocks of grass which cattle will not eat. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The 
sweetest of pasture grasses are grown 
upon uplands, and the keeping of hill lands 
permanently in grass is an important matter, 
not only for the stock, but for the benefit to 
the land in preventing washing. But the 
pasturing of stock, particularly of growing 
animals, and of cows whose milk is sold, ex- 
hausts the phosphate and potash of the soil 
very rapidly, and it is important that these 
be restored if the sod is to be kept in the 
best condition. 

The kinds of grasses best adapted to this 
purpose will depend upon the character of 
the soil and the climate. In limestone dis- 
tricts, the main pasture should, in the Middle 
States, be the " Kentucky blue grass" (Poa 
pratensis), with orchard grass in beginning. 
On clay uplands of the granitic formations 
or on the red sandstone formations in the 
Middle States use Virginia blue grass ( Poa 
compressa) and Rhode Island bent grass, 
with orchard grass to start the sod and pro- 



62 GRASS FOR LAWNS. 

tect the slower grasses. The same rule will 
apply to the mountain regions of Virginia, 
North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. 
For the southern coast plain there is no 
grass which can equal the Bermuda grass 
(Cynodon dacty/on). This, mixed with Texas 
blue grass (Poa arachnifera), will make 
a perfect summer and winter pasture from 
North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico. 

GRASS FOR LAWNS. 

It is just as easy to have a good lawn in 
any part of the United States as anywhere 
else, if the preparation is right and the 
grasses used are suited to the soil and the 
climate. From Virginia northward there is 
no better grass needed than the Kentucky 
blue grass (Poa firatensts), but in the South, 
and on a sandy soil anywhere, this grass does 
not do so well. On the sandy soils of the 
South, success can only be attained by giving 
the lawn a good coat of clay, for the grass 
will surely burn out without it. Many peo- 
ple fail to get a good, permanent lawn in 
the South because they endeavor to enrich 
the sandy soil by spreading black soil from 
the woods or swamp on the land. This dries 
to a powder in hot weather and destroys the 



GRASS FOR MEADOWS. 63 

grass. The better plan is to make a com- 
pact bed of clay, and then enrich it by top 
dressings. For this purpose nothing is bet- 
ter than raw bone meal. Use 400 pounds of 
bone meal with 200 pounds Muriate of Pot- 
ash per acre. The lawn must be well pre- 
pared, and the surface made smooth and 
fine. The seed should be sown at the rate 
of not less than five bushels per acre and 
well raked in. In the South use a mixture 
of redtop, perennial rye grass and herd 
fescue in equal parts. Bermuda grass 
will also make a good summer lawn in the 
South, and, if mixed with Texas blue grass, 
will give a green lawn the year round. 
Regular mowing with the lawn mower is es- 
sential to a good lawn anywhere. The cut 
grass should be allowed to remain as a mulch. 
The top dressing suggested should be used 
annually. If the growth of the grass is not 
rank enough, it will be very beneficial to oc- 
casionally give a top dressing of nitrate of 
soda, using 100 pounds per acre during the 
growing season. 

GRASS FOR MEADOWS. 

Fertilizer. — A heavy growth of grass 
means enrichment of the soil, and it is only 



64 GRASS FOR MEADOWS. 

on lands kept rich by liberal fertilization and 
by rotation of crops that heavy crops of hay 
can be cut. When meadows are kept mown 
for several years, they should be annually 
top dressed with 500 pounds of a fertilizer 
containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 
Potash, 11 " 

This application should be made in the 
early spring or during the winter as top 
dressing and harrowed in. An occasional 
top dressing of lime may also be beneficial. 
Under such treatment meadows will continue 
to improve every year. Sour grasses and 
mosses will gradually disappear, and grasses 
of good quality and clovers will take their 
places. Not only will the quantity of hay 
be largely increased, but its quality greatly 
improved. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — As with 
the permanent pasture grasses, the kinds of 
grass to be used will depend upon the nature 
of the soil and the character of the climate. 
Our country is so large that no general rules 
can be made for all. 

For strong, clay loams or limestone lands 
from the mountains of Virginia northward, 



GRASS FOR MEADOWS. 65 

the time-honored Timothy grass (Phleum 
pratense) is as yet unrivaled for yield and 
salable quality. It is commonly mixed with 
corn, but the combination is not as success- 
ful as a mixture of clover with an earlier 
grass. On moist lands, sow redtop grass 
with the Timothy to give it a dense bottom. 
From central and eastern Virginia south- 
ward, Timothy grass is not the best hay 
grass. On clay uplands in the South a mix- 
ture of orchard grass, fall meadow fescue and 
fall meadow oats grass will make the best 
hay and heaviest crop. A little red clover 
should be mixed with this, as all are early 
and can be cut together. On the sandy 
lands of the southern coast plain, the advis- 
ability of attempting the culture of meadow 
grasses on uplands is doubtful. On low, 
black bottom lands, Johnson grass (Sor- 
glmm Halepense) will give enormous crops at 
several cuttings, but it is hard to break up, 
and its scattered seeds are apt to start the 
grass as a weed when not wanted. But for 
yield of hay in the South it is unequalled. 
Bermuda grass, also, on similar lands, will 
make a choice hay. The annual grasses, 
such as the native crab grass, will give won- 
derful crops on heavily enriched soil. 



66 HEMP AND HOPS. 

HEMP. 

Soil. — Hemp is best grown on soils 
abounding in humus. The mechanical 
texture of the soil is not so important, pro- 
vided it is kept well drained and fertile. 
When the soil is fertile, hemp is often grown 
year after year on the same land. 

Fertilizer. — Hemp is a gross feeder, par- 
ticularly upon potash. Use per aero Soo lbs. 
of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 4^ per cent. 

Potash, 9 " 

Nitrogen, $% " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Hemp 
originated in the Chinese territory, but is 
now cultivated in all parts of the world. 
When grown on soils abounding in humus 
and in a northern latitude, it yields a finer 
fibre than when grown in hot countries. 

HOPS. 

Soil. — High, dry, loamy soils are best 
suited for hops. 

Fertiliser. — This plant is a perennial, and 
therefore occupies the land for years. The 
preparation of the land preceding the plant- 
ing should be deep and perfect and the sub- 



HOPS AND HORSE RADISH. 67 

soil should be loosened. Use per acre 1,000 
lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 10 " 

Nitrogen, . 3 " 

It is to be noted that the amount of potash 
for hops should be large, and a larger per- 
centage of potash than the above recom- 
mended may be used with profit, while care 
should be taken not to use too large quanti- 
ties of phosphoric acid and nitrogen ; if this 
precaution is not observed the product will 
be of large size, but the quality will be 
inferior. Hops are grown from cuttings of 
the roots set in holes eight inches below the 
surface, and are trained on poles and wire. 
The plant is dioecious, that is, the male 
blossoms are borne on one plant and the 
female on another. The female blooms are 
the hops of commerce. It was formerly 
thought necessary to have a proportion of 
male plants, but this is not now practiced. 

HORSE RADISH. 

Soil. — A deep but not heavy clay loam is 
best suited for horse radish. 



68 HORSE RADISH, LENTILS AND LETTUCE. 

Fertilizer. — Use per acre 600 lbs. of a fer- 
tilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 10 

Nitrogen, 4 



a a 



LENTILS. 

Soil. — Lentils flourish well upon light marl 
or light loamy soil, or even upon dry, stony 
soil rich in lime. On such soils peas would 
not grow well. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Grain or hoed 
crops should precede lentils. Use the same 
fertilizer as for peas. 



LETTUCE. 

Soil. — In outdoor culture the soil best 
adapted to this crop is a mellow loam, well 
enriched with nitrogenous fertilizers, as the 
crispness and quality depend largely upon 
the rapidity of its growth. Lettuce is now 
grown in large quantities under glass in 
winter in specially prepared soil made of 
rotted grass sods and manure. 

Fertilizer. — Use per acre 1,000 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 



LUCERNE AND LUPINE. 69 

Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent. 
Potash, 10 " 

Nitrogen, 5 ' ' 

When grown in coldframes, use to each 
3x6 foot sash, one pound of the following 
mixture : 

Available phosphoric acid, 9^ per cent. 
Potash, 15 " 

Nitrogen, 2^ " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — In the 
open ground lettuce can be planted between 
early cabbages, and then cut out before the 
cabbages need all the space. In this case 
they will not need independent fertilization. 

LUCERNE. 

(see alfalfa.) 

LUPINE. 

Soil. — Lupine does best, both as a source 
of seed and for green fodder, upon very 
light sandy soil, poor in lime. Heavy loams 
and clays are not favorable for the yellow 
variety, but the other varieties will do fairly 
well upon them. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — There is not 
much choice as to rotation, as this crop does 
well upon the poorest soils. To obtain the 



70 LUPINE. 

largest amount of seed we may plant it after 
grain or potatoes. For green manure the 
lupine can follow winter rye and be sown 
directly on the plowed up stubble. It will 
grow to such an extent that when it is plowed 
under the result will be equal to a light 
manuring with stable manure. 

As a fertilizer use per acre from 300 to 500 
pounds of kainit. 

The lupine needs a large amount of potash 
to grow to perfection, but it does not seem 
to be responsive to applications of phosphate. 
Lime is positively injurious to this plant. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The 
lupine may not do well on soil upon which it 
is planted for the first time, for the reason 
that the bacteria necessary for its growth are 
not sufficiently present. Continued planting 
will finally adapt the soil to this crop. By 
means of exact scientific experiments it has 
been proved that in a sterilized soil contain- 
ing no organic matter or life, no root nodules 
can be formed. Such a soil must first be 
charged with the bacteria, either by means 
of a watery solution of good soil, or from the 
root nodules themselves. Only when this 
has been done svccessfully can the nodules 
be developed, ana the nitrogen be assimi- 



MANGEL-WURZEL AND MIL. FT. 71 

lated. Most kinds of soil contain these bac- 
teria, and only in rare cases is it necessary 
to supply them. Such a case might be 
necessary upon a reclaimed swamp where 
considerable fire had been applied in the 
work of reclaiming. According to experi- 
ments made in reclaiming swamp lands at 
the Experiment Station in Bremen, the soil 
was made fit for lupines by the addition of 
small quantities of soil containing clover 
roots from a field where clover had been 
successfully grown. 

MANGEL-WURZEL. 
(see beets.) 

MILLET. 

Soil. — These grasses require a rich, moist 
loam to make a good crop. They thrive well 
also on low peaty or marshy soils. 

Fertilizer. — They should be manured like 
the other grasses. 

General Notes and Sugg est ions. — Under the 
name of millet are included a number of dif- 
ferent species of annual grasses. Panicum 
tniliaceum, or common millet, is grown 
largely for hay. Italian, or golden millet, 
German millet, golden wonder millet and 



72 MINT AND MUSTARD. 

Japanese millet, all belong to Setaria Italica 
and are all annuals. Pennisetum spicatum 
is pearl millet or cat-tail millet. These are 
all valuable forage plants of quick summer 
growth. All should be cut as soon as fairly 
out of bloom, except the pearl millet, which 
should be cut before the flower heads are 
fairly out, when it will grow again. They 
are exhaustive crops, and their place can be 
taken to advantage by cow peas or annual 
clover. 

MINT. 

Soil. — Alluvial, clay loam, or peaty soils, 
which must not be overcharged with surplus 
water, are recommended for mint. 

Fertilizer, — Use per acre 700 lbs. of a fer- 
tilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 

Potash, 7 " 

Nitrogen, 4 " 

MUSTARD. 

Soil. — Mustard grows on any soil, but pre- 
fers a medium rich loam. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Mustard, when 
grown for seed, can follow an early crop of 
crimson clover, or in the South a crop of 



oats. 73 

early potatoes. Use per acre 300 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 8 

Nitrogen, 3 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Mustard 
has often been grown as green manure. 
When thus treated it does not enrich the 
soil in nitrogen, for it does not belong, to the 
so-called leguminous plants, and has not the 
property of absorbing nitrogen from the air. 
The advantage of raising it for green manure 
consists in furnishing humus to the soil, and 
also in preventing leaching during the win- 
ter. If leguminous crops can be substituted, 
they will be preferable to mustard as green 
manure 

OATS. 

Soil. — Oats adapt themselves to all sorts 
of soil better than any other cereal. They 
thrive on thin uplands and do excellently on 
reclaimed swamp lands. They are not par- 
ticular as to the physical character of the 
soil, but usually prefer a mellow loam. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — When sown in 
the spring, as is usual in the North, they do 
well after a crop of Indian corn planted the 



74 OATS. 

previous season. Winter oats cannot follow 
a corn crop north of Virginia, since they 
should be sown in September, before the 
corn is out of the way. Spring oats will net 
need fertilizer when following a well 
manured corn crop of the previous year, or 
when planted on new ground, or on re- 
claimed swamp lands. 

Winter oats do best after a crop of peas or 
clover grown for pasturage. In this case 
no nitrogenous fertilizer need be used in 
autumn, though a light dressing of 30 to 50 
pounds of nitrate of soda may be profitably 
applied in the spring. In South Carolina such 
an application is found to make a wonderful 
increase in the crop. On light land it would 
be best to give the winter oats 400 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 5 " 

Nitrogen, 2 ^ ' ' 

All experiments tend to show that for oats 
it is important that a fair percentage of 
nitrogen be supplied in the fertilizer, even 
though they follow a nitrogen gathering 
crop. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Spring 
oats do best in northern latitudes, but the 



olive. 75 

varieties of winter oats usually sown from 
Virginia southward are doubtless hardy 
enough anywhere in the winter wheat belt. 
Thorough compacting of the soil is as im- 
portant in the culture of oats as in that of 
wheat, but a more shallow drilling is better. 
A depth of three inches has been found best 
for wheat, and two inches for oats. 

Both oats and wheat, in common with 
most small grains, suffer from the attacks of 
smut (ustilago). The spurs of these fungous 
plants attach themselves to the grain. When 
the grain is planted they germinate and 
enter the tissues of the plant at an early 
stage of its growth. The best plan to de- 
stroy the smut in wheat, barley or oats is to 
keep the seed 15 minutes in water heated to 
132% degrees Fahrenheit. An accurate 
thermometer should be used and the tem- 
perature carefully maintained at the given 
point. 

OLIVE. 

Soil. — The olive thrives best on calcareous, 
gravelly, and dry soils, in an arid climate. 

Fertilizer. — Phosphate and potash fertiliz- 
ers are needed for the olive. Sow crimson 
clover among the trees in September, and 



76 ONIONS. 

plow under in May, using with the clover 
300 lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 

Potash, 8 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The cli- 
mate of the California foothills seems to suit 
the olive best, and olive oil is becoming an 
important article of commerce. While olive 
trees will grow on poor soils, yet they will 
repay careful cultivation and feeding. 

ONIONS. 

Soil. — Onions do best upon a light, loamy 
soil and one that has been kept free from 
weeds by careful culture. They can be 
grown a number of years on the same land 
if properly fertilized. Onions thrive well 
on soil which contains much humus, and 
which is consequently retentive of moisture. 
Muck soils are often selected for onion 
farms. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — It is well to have 
onions preceded by a crop which frees the 
soil from weeds, as, for example, potatoes. 
Onions need lime for their development, and 
to make good crops they require heavy 
manuring. Commercial fertilizers are bet- 
ter for onions than animal manures, since 



THE ORANGE AND LEMON. 77 

the former contain no seed producing weeds 
Use per acre 1,500 lbs. of a fertilizer con- 
taining : 

Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent. 
Potash, 7 " 

Nitrogen, 4 ' ' 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The com- 
mon practice in the South has been to use 
sets or small bulbs grown the previous year 
from thickly sown seed. But good crops 
can be raised anywhere from the black seed 
by sowing early. From Virginia south- 
ward sow the seed in February. Sets for 
growing early-grown onions should be 
planted in the fall. Stable manure is also 
objectionable, for the reason that it fosters 
the onion maggot. If the onion farm is 
located on muck soil, a maximum quantity 
of phosphoric acid and potash should be ap- 
plied and only a small amount of nitrogen, 
because such soils are rich in the latter and 
poor in the former ingredients. Too much 
nitrogen will also retard the ripening and 



curing. 



THE ORANGE AND LEMON. 



Soil. — A deep, mellow and well drained 
soil is necessary for oranges. Good groves 



78 THE ORANGE AND LEMON. 

can be made on quite sandy land if attention 
is paid to fertilization and the growing of 
nitrogen gathering crops. Black, rich ham- 
mock land in Florida will also make fine 
oranges if well drained. 

Rotation and Fertilizer, — The orange needs 
ample supplies of lime, particularly when 
grown on black land. The phosphatic rock 
now being dug so plentifully in Florida, will 
make a good application to orange trees on 
hammock land. It should be finely pulver- 
ized and used at the rate of not less than one 
ton per acre, as it becomes available for 
plant food very slowly. If heavily applied 
in connection with 200 pounds or more of sul- 
phate of potash per acre, good results may 
be expected. It is a good plan to sow crim- 
son clover at the beginning of the rainy sea- 
son. Tramp it down and permit it to decay 
in winter, when the crop is being gathered, 
and then plow it under in the spring. If no 
leguminous crops are raised, the following 
fertilizer is recommended: 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 12 " 

Nitrogen, 3 ' ' 

(Potash in the form of sulphate.) 
Apply 20 lbs. to each tree twice a year. 



PARSNIPS, PEACH AND ALMOND. 79 

First application from November 15 to De- 
cember 15, and second application from May 
15 to June 15. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The great 
success of the orange crop in Florida and 
California shows that we can excel any other 
country in the fine quality of the fruit pro- 
duced. For shipping to European countries 
the varieties called russets are not desirable. 

PARSNIPS. 

Soil. — The same soil is recommended as 
for carrots. 

Fertilizer. — The parsnip requires about 
one-fifth more plant food than the carrot; 
and as regards the amount of phosphoric 
acid, in comparison with that required by 
the carrot, the quantity might with advan- 
tage be doubled. 

PEACH AND ALMOND. 

Soil. — The peach and almond thrive on a 
light upland and on quite sandy soil. 

Fertilizer. — The following manurial treat- 
ment is recommended for peach orchards: 
In August sow crimson clover between the 
rows of trees, and plow it under in April or 



80 PEACH AND ALMOND. 

May of the following year, and add at the 
same time 1,000 lbs. of a fertilizer contain- 
ing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 5 per cent. 
Potash, 7 

If leguminous crops are not raised in the or- 
chard, use from 100 to 200 lbs. of nitrate of 
soda per acre. Cultivate until the fruit is 
ripe, and then sow clover again. In this 
way the orchard will be kept healthy and the 
trees will live longer. When the trees, being 
naturally short-lived, ultimately fail, the 
soil will be in a condition to grow any crop. 
A heavy application of potash will make the 
peach trees thrifty, and they will resist 
longer the attacks of the " yellows." 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The 
famous peach sections are in the sandy soils 
of Delaware and in the long leaf pine region 
of Moore County, North Carolina. The al- 
mond is longer lived than the peach. The hard 
shell almond is hardy in latitudes from 40 
degrees southward. The soft shell almond 
thrives best in a dry climate like California. 
Both of these should have regular but shal- 
low culture during all the growing season as 
long as they live. In locations south of the 



PEANUT. 8l 

State of Pennsylvania, both peach and al- 
mond should be planted fully exposed to the 
north. If planted in the South in a warm, 
sunny exposure, they bloom out in winter 
and the blossoms are frequently destroyed 
by a return of cold. 

PEANUT. 

Soil. — A sandy soil rich in lime is import- 
ant. No other will make a good crop. 

Fertilizer. — The peanut being a legumi- 
nous plant, does not need applications of 
nitrogenous manures. Lime is very essential 
to this crop, especially if the soil abounds in 
vegetable matter. But the great need of all 
these legumes is potash, and to make potash 
most available there should be plenty of phos- 
phoric acid present. If well supplied with 
these fertilizers, the plant will acquire from 
the air all the nitrogen needed for its growth. 
A poor soil with proper fertilizers will make 
a better crop of peanuts than a very fertile 
soil. Use per acre 600 lbs. of a fertilizer 
containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent. 
Potash, 15 " 

Give also an ample supply of lime. 



82 PEARS, AND PEAS COW. 

PEARS. 

Soil. — Pears require a soil similar to the 
apple, but unlike the apple they thrive on 
moist lands on our southern coast. 

Fertiliser. — As regards fertilizers, pears 
should be treated about in the same manner 
as the apple. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The dis- 
ease called "fire blight" is always worse on 
cultivated pear trees. Therefore plant them 
in a sod, and keep the sod fertile and regu- 
larly mown like a lawn. Since fire blight is 
a fungous disease, the best remedy is to re- 
move all diseased branches and trees and 
burn them up. The saws used for the pur- 
pose should be kept clean as they might 
transfer the disease from one tree to an- 
other. 

PEAS-COW. 

Soil. — The cow pea does well on any soil, 
and it will grow on the poorest lands if 
properly fertilized. A sandy soil probably 
suits it best. 

Fertilizer. — Like other legumes it needs 
no artificial application of nitrogen, but is a 
greedy feeder upon potash and phosphoric 
acid. If plenty of these food elements is 



PEAS COW. 83 

supplied the growth will be enormous, and a 
very heavy crop of forage will be obtained, 
giving food for stock and permanently im- 
proving the soil at the same time. While 
peas will grow on the poorest land their best 
effects are only obtained when a rank growth- 
is produced by fertilization with potash and 
phosphoric acid. The capacity of the plant 
to collect nitrogen is in proportion to its de- 
velopment. It is therefore of the utmost 
importance to feed well the plants that are 
going to supply the soil for other crops. Use 
per acre 400 lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 
Available phosphoric acid, 10 per cent. 
Potash, 10 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The plant 
cultivated in the South under the name of 
field or cow pea is really a bean. The proper 
botanical name of the plant is a matter of 
much confusion and uncertainty, but there is 
no doubt as to its value to the farmer, parti- 
cularly from Virginia southward. It is 
valuable both for hay and as one of the most 
efficient ol the nitrogen collecting crops 
grown, and by its use the Southern farmer 
can do more towards the improvement of 
his land in one summer than the Northern 
farmer can do with clover in two. One of 



84 PEAS GREEN. 

the best varieties for green manuring as well 
as for seed, is the so-called ''wonderful or 
unknown pea." Cut the peas when podded 
but not yet ripe, and cure them for cow feed. 
The stubble, when well plowed and prepared, 
makes the best possible preparation for a 
crop of wheat, better than if the fertilizer 
had been all applied directly to the wheat. 
When used for this purpose from one to two 
bushels of seed should be used per acre. 
Much interest has of late been shown in this 
crop in localities far north of where it has 
formerly been grown, and favorable results 
have been obtained as far north as northern 
Ohio. 

PEAS-GREEN. 

Soil. — A good sandy loam or light clay 
loam is recommended. 

Fertilize?-. — As the pea belongs to the 
leguminous plants it needs little or no appli- 
cation of nitrogen when intended for mature 
growth. But as the garden pea is grown 
early and used green it is benefited by a 
nitrogenous application. Use per acre 900 
lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 11 " " 

Nitrogen, 1% l ' " 



PINEAPPLE. 85 

General Notes and Suggestions, — Peas are 
quite liable to a disease which retards the 
time of ripening and the full development of 
the seed; but if mineral fertilizers are 
applied in sufficient amounts the injury from 
diseases is much reduced or even avoided. 
In the South green peas can be raised very- 
pro fitably for shipping North. They are 
then sown about the 1st of December and 
are ready for market the 1st of March. The 
raising of this crop on a large scale requires 
considerable experience, but is quite profit- 
able. It will bring as much as $300 per 
acre net profit. The expense of raising will 
not be over $1.00 per crate of one bushel, 
and it will bring from $1.50 to $5.00 per 
crate. A crop of one hundred and fifty 
bushels per acre may be raised on an average. 

PINEAPPLE. 

Soil. — A light sandy loam is the best for 
pineapples. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Before planting 
a field of pineapples, it is well to raise upon 
it for one season a good crop of cow peas. 
These should be fertilized very heavily, say 
with 800 pounds of kainit and 600 pounds of 



86 PINEAPPLE. 

acid phosphate per acre. During the early 
growth of the pineapple plant it needs a con- 
siderable amount of nitrogen. This is best sup- 
plied by using cotton seed meal at the rate 
of about 1,000 pounds per acre. As the plant 
becomes older, considerable amounts of 
potash and phosphoric acid are needed. The 
usual applications of acid phosphate, etc., 
are liable to produce injury by destroying 
the foliage and centres of growth. It is 
therefore well to use phosphoric acid in the 
form of bone meal. A grown up pineapple 
field, may receive per annum 2,000 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash % 8 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

(Potash in the form of Sulphate.) 

To prevent injury to foliage some special 
mechanical devices are sometimes used for 
making these applications. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The only 
portion of the United States in which pine- 
apples can well be grown is the southeastern 
part of Florida and the Indian River beyond 
the frost line. 



PLUMS AND POTATOES IRISH. 87 

PLUMS. 

Soil, — All plums prefer a soil of a rather 
compact and clayey nature, but will do well 
on soil of quite a sandy character. 

Fertilizer. — Like all hard wood trees, 
plums require large supplies of potash, and 
will be greatly benefited by an annual 
dressing of 1,000 lbs. of a fertilizer contain- 
ing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 5 per cent. 
Potash, 7 " 

If the soil is poor in nitrogen, use from 
100 to 200 pounds nitrate of soda in addition. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The 
plums now in cultivation belong to a num- 
ber of species native to several parts of the 
world. Though they differ from each other 
in many respects, their culture is the same. 
The Japan plums are now the most popular, 
as they suffer less from the attacks of in- 
sects than the European sorts formerly 
grown. Some of the American varieties, 
such as the wild goose, have also been found 
profitable for market fruit. 

POTATOES-IRISH. 

Soil. — Potatoes thrive best on a mellow 
loam, well drained, and inclined rather to 



SS POTATOES IRISH. 

sand than clay. Badly drained and heavy 
soils produce smaller crops and potatoes of 
poor quality. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — The best of all 
•crops to precede potatoes is clover or a new 
grass sod plowed under the previous fall. 
It has been found that south of Maryland 
the early crop of Irish potatoes needs a 
more liberal supply cf nitrogen than in the 
North, since the whole growth is made in 
the early growing season, before bacterial 
nitrification becomes active. Barnyard 
manure seems to promote the fungous dis- 
ease known as scab, so that potato growers 
of experience now generally avoid barnyard 
manures for Irish potatoes and depend 
entirely upon commercial fertilizers. A 
fertilizer rich in potash is essential. For 
general purposes use per acre 700 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 11 " 

Nitrogen, 3 " 

Much larger quantities of the above-named 
fertilizer are often used with much profit, 
and we have heard of farmers using 2,000 
pounds per acre, and obtaining the best pay- 



POTATOES IRISH. 89 

ing results. Sulphate of potash is mostly em- 
ployed as a source of potash for potatoes. 
By observations that have been made, it 
seems that the sulphate produces a better 
quality, however. Some have experienced 
that muriate produces a good quality, and as 
high, if not a higher, yield than the sulphate. 
A large crop of potatoes can be grown south 
of Virginia from seed of the early crop, 
planted in August. This crop does not re- 
quire such heavy fertilization, and can be 
grown after some well-manured early crop. 
This late crop makes the best seed for plant- 
ing the following spring. 

General Notes and Suggestions.— -Scabby 
potatoes are so common and so inferior for 
all purposes, that the recently discovered 
method of prevention by Professor Bailey, 
now used by many of the largest potato 
growers of the country, is here given. The 
disease is caused by a fungous growth. The 
remedy is based upon the killing of the germ 
producing the disease, and the material is 
the same as used in antiseptic surgery. 
' ' The seed potato, either cut or whole, is 
soaked for two hours in a weak solution of 
corrosive sublimate and dried before plant- 
ing." 



go POTATOES SWEET. 

POTATOES-SWEET. 

Soil. — The only soil in which sweet pota- 
toes develop their best qualities is a sandy 
soil. There must not be present an excess 
of nitrogenous matter. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — The sweet po- 
tato crop does well after a cleanly cultivated 
corn crop, but better upon a fall plowed 
sod. When potatoes have been grown on 
same land for years, and the vines left to 
decay thereon, the soil is said to become ''po- 
tato sick." A heavy dressing of potash and 
phosphoric acid overcomes the sickness, but 
it is best to grow some other crop on the 
land for a while. Use per acre 550 lbs. of 
a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 

Potash, 9 " 

Nitrogen, 4 " 

Sulphate of potash is generally preferred as 
a source of potash for sweet potatoes. If 
sweet potatoes are raised after corn, add from 
50 to 100 pounds of nitrate of soda. If they 
are planted after a fall-plowed sod, no nitro- 
gen should be used. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — There is 
no botanical relation between the sweet po- 
tato and the Irish potato, although both are 



PUMPKINS AND QUINCE. 9 1 

called potatoes. The sweet potato belongs 
to the same family of plants as the morning- 
glory. The potato sprouts are set on shal- 
low ridges, which should not be made too 
high, as in such case potatos grow long and 
unsightly, and in a dry season suffer more 
from the drought. 

PUMPKINS. 
(see squash.) 

QUINCE. 

Soil. — Quinces, like plums, prefer a moist 
clav soil, and seem to thrive better in the 
vicinity of salt water. They need above all 
a soil abounding in vegetable matter or 
humus. 

Fertilize?'. — The fertilizer recommended 
tor the pear will do equally well for the 
quince, but the latter seems satisfied with 
lighter applications. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Quinces 
are commonly treated with utter neglect, but 
they will well repay good culture. They can 
be easily grown from cuttings set in the open 
ground in the fall. The best sorts are the 
"Champion" for the South, and the 



92 RADISHES. 

" Orange " for the North. The trees should 
be well cultivated when young, and when 
they come into bearing the orchard should 
be seeded down to grass and kept mown like 
a lawn, and all the cut grass allowed to decay 
on the land. 

RADISHES. 

Radishes, being grown mainly during the 
early and cool season, need a liberal supply 
of nitrogen as the more rapidly they are 
grown the more crisp and palatable they are. 
Market gardeners grow radishes largely as a 
catch crop, scattering the seed between 
other crops which have been heavily 
manured. They are also sometimes sown in 
the rows of early beets, as they come up 
quickly and are soon pulled out of the way 
before the beets get much size and need all 
the room. Radishes, especially those with 
long roots, like a deep and light soil. The 
turnip-rooted kinds can be grown on much 
shallower soil. A good fertilizer for radishes 
per acre is 800 lbs. of the following mixture : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 10 " 

Nitrogen, 3 '• 



RAMIE AND RAPE. 93 

RAMIE. 

Soil. — Sandy loam. 

Fertilizer. — Liberal fertilizing is necessary. 
Frequently the plantations are resown but 
once in twenty-five years. Apply compost, 
mixed with the old leaves of the plant, as 
well as 650 lbs. of a fertilizer containing;: 
Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent. 
Potash, 5 

Nitrogen, 2 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The fer- 
tilizer ought to make a quick growth of stalks, 
in order to produce the best quality of fibre. 
The crop is very exhausting to the soil, the 
yield being 5 to 10 tons of dry stalks per 
acre. It may be propagated either by 
divisions of roots, cuttings, layers or seed. 
Two to four crops are cut per year. It is 
adapted to California and the Gulf States. 

RAPE. 

Soil. — Strong loam or clay, well supplied 
with humus, is recommended. It docs well 
on thoroughly cultivated reclaimed marshes. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Almost any crop 
which leaves the soil in a friable condition, 
such as hoed crops or green crops turned 
under, may precede rape. 



94 RASPBERRIES. 

Use per acre 600 lbs. of a fertilizer contain- 
ing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 9 " " 

Nitrogen, 4 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Rape is a 
very heavy feeder, and stable manure is re- 
commended in addition to artificial fertil 
izers. 

RASPBERRIES. 

Soil. — A deep, rich clay loam and & 
northern exposure suit the plant well. 

Fertilizer. — Use per acre 700 lbs. of a fer- 
tilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 12 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Two gen- 
eral classes of raspberries are cultivated, 
and they are derived from several botanical 
ypecies. The two classes are the red rasp- 
berries and the black caps. The former are 
thrown entirely from suckers and root cut- 
tings, while the cap sorts are grown by root- 
ing the tips of the shoots of the season as 
they grow. Raspberries are much more at 
home in the Northern States than in the 



RHUBARB. 95 

Southern. The red sorts are not worth 
growing- south of Maryland, but the black 
caps do fairly well. The planting and cul- 
ture are the same as recommended for black- 
berries. The plantation should be renewed 
every five years. The ground should be 
thoroughly cultivated early in the season, 
and then well mulched. Old canes should 
be removed early in the spring. 

RHUBARB. 

As rhubarb is grown in gardens solely for 
its leaf stalks, it is essential that these should 
be induced to grow to the most complete de- 
velopment. To this end a deep and very 
fertile soil is essential. A soil of a clayey 
nature and inclined to be moist is best 
adapted to this crop, as it suffers quickly 
from drought. Depth of soil is of the first 
importance, for the large roots need plenty 
of room for proper development. Good 
rhubarb cannot be grown except on very rich 
soil. There is no danger of getting it too 
rich. Heavy applications of stable manure 
make the best possible fertilization, but in 
its absence mix 1,300 pounds of the follow- 
ing fertilizer with twenty loads of black 



g6 rice. 

mold from the forest, and apply the whole 
to an acre. Fertilizer containing- : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 7 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

The best crop to precede rhubarb is 
clover. 

RICE. 

Soil. — -Water rice or swamp rice needs low 
lands, diked and ditched for flooding and 
draining. Upland rice is best grown on 
black, peaty soils which never suffer from 
drought. 

Fertilizer. — Upon the peaty soils for up- 
land rice no nitrogen is needed, but a dress- 
ing of 300 lbs. acid phosphate and 100 lbs. 
muriate of potash per acre pays well. 

Planters of water rice find that it pays well 
to use 450 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent. 

Potash, 6 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

Sometimes, as in Italy, about three bushels 
of lupine seeds per acre are also sown upon 
the rice fields. These lupine seeds gradu- 
ally decay in the water, and furnish the 
necessary nitrogen for the rice. 



RUTA BAGAS AND RYE. 97 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The 
swamp rice constitutes the bulk of the rice 
of commerce, and can only be grown in this 
country from North Carolina south to the 
Gulf. Its culture, to be profitable, must be 
upon a large scale, and with an expensive 
outfit. It needs a low muck soil. 

In Eastern North Carolina and southward, 
large quantities of upland rice are grown. 
The seed is planted in hills ten inches to 
fifteen inches apart, in rows wide enough to 
admit of horse culture, each hill containing 
a number of plants , 

RUTA BAGAS. 
(See Turnips.) 

RYE. 

Soil. — Rye does well upon soils light in 
texture and containing but little nitrogen. A 
soil rich in nitrogenous matter will produce 
a rank growth of straw, but a deficient crop 
of grain. It succeeds far better on light, 
high, dry soil than upon low, heavy land. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Rye comes in 
very well after a crop of Indian corn. If 
put on a good clover sod or pea farm the 
growth of straw is apt to be too rank. It is 



$8 SOILING. 

•always best to put a hoed or cultivated crop, 
either of corn or potatoes, before rye, to use 
up any excess of nitrogen that may be pres- 
ent in the soil. Soil otherwise well suited 
to rye is usually poor in potash. If it is in a 
fairly fertile condition, we should not use any 
nitrogen at all. Use 350 lbs. of a fertilizer 
containing : 

Available phosphoric Acid, 1 1 per cent. 
Potash, 6 " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — From the 
fact that rye requires but a small quantity of 
nitrogen it is not wise to fertilize it with 
stable manure. 

SOILING. 

Crops. — Vetches, crimson clover, red 
clover, buckwheat, spurry, fodder corn, 
fodder cabbage, etc. 

The term "soiling" has been applied to 
the practice of keeping cattle confined and 
feeding them on green-cut food. A much 
larger number of animals can be kept on the 
same piece of land than by pasturing them. 
The practice is a good one, at times, even 
where grazing is the usual practice, for in 
our climate there are times in almost 
summer in which the pastures fail to give aL 



SOILING. 99 

adequate supply of food by reason of dry 
weather. At such times, some crops planted 
for cutting while green will te found of 
great value. Few people fully realize the 
quantity of food at can be cut from an 
acre of fertile soil by keeping up a regular 
succession of crops. The earliest crop that 
is available for soiling purposes is, probably, 
crimson clover, sown in the previous August. 
The ordinary red clover will follow this 
closely, with some fall sown rye to help it 
out, and by the time these are used up, 
early sown corn will be ready to cut. There 
can be a regular succession of corn and cow 
peas kept up until frost, and by sowing in 
August, winter vetches can then be ready, 
in the South, and, with rye, will furnish 
green food most of the winter, and, if a silo 
is at hand, the corn and peav. can be pre- 
served for the winter supply. For the best 
results in soiling it is essential that the land 
be very fertile, and, if not naturally so, it 
will be necessary to fertilize quite heavily at 
the start. The clover, as we have said, will 
not need nitrogenous fertilizers, but the 
other crops should have a liberal supply of 
j ^mplete fertilizer. After a little while, the 
L creased production of manure will enable 



IOO SORGHUM AND SPINACH. 

the farmer to dispense with any artificial 
manures, except an occasional application of 
potash and phosphoric acid, for, unless some 
food grown elsewhere is fed, these mineral 
matters in the soil must eventually be ex- 
hausted, and they cannot be obtained from 
the air as the nitrogen can. 

The same kinds of manure should be ap- 
plied to these fodder crops, as previously 
stated when discussing each separately. 



SORGHUM. 

Soil. — Sorghum does well on a sandy loam 
or gravelly soil, and on prairie soil, even 
when comparatively dry. 

Fertilizer. — See " Sweet Corn." 
General Notes and Suggestions. — It is culti- 
vated like corn, but does well on drier 
soils. 



SPINACH. 






Soil. — Spinach prefers a warm, light and 
well-drained soil, and an abundance of nitro • 
genous food. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Market garden 
ers in the South sow it on land intended for 



SP/NACH. IOI 

the crop of early snap beans in spring, and 
sow the seed in rows, two and a half to three 
feet apart, in August or September. The 
crop is cut out during winter, and enough 
plant food is left in the soil to carry the crop 
of beans through, and these are in turn fol- 
lowed by melons, manured in the hill. Use 
per acre 1,200 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 6 " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions.- — Spinach 
is one of our most hardy vegetables, and 
stands the winters in nearly all parts of the 
United States. There are a number of varie- 
ties in cultivation, some with smooth and 
some with prickly seeds. It was formerly 
the practice to advise the sowing of the 
prickly seeded sorts in the fall and the 
smooth ones in spring, but there is really no 
difference as to hardiness, and either can be 
sown as may be convenient. The smooth 
seeded sorts are more largely sown now than 
the prickly varieties. The most popular va- 
riety is the Norfolk Savoy leaved. The 
Viroflay is probably the most productive 
sort. 



102 SPURRY, SQUASHES AND PUMPKINS. 

SPURRY. 

This plant has been brought into notice 
lately as a forage plant, well adapted to 
sandy soils. It has been found valuable on 
the sandy lands o£ Michigan, but is of little 
or no value in a warm climate. Care is 
needed to prevent its becoming a trouble- 
some weed. The lands which are in the 
best mechanical condition for it are usually 
deficient in potash, and a fertilizer well sup- 
plied with this is of the first importance. 
Use per acre 1,500 lbs. of a fertilizer con- 



taining: 










Available phosphoric 


acid, 


8 


per 


cent. 


Potash, 




10 


i i 


a 


Nitrogen 




1 


i 1 


(i 



SQUASHES AND PUMPKINS. 

The treatment advised for melons will ap- 
ply equally well to these crops. Where In- 
dian corn is grown on rich land in the North- 
ern States, it is a common practice to plant 
pumpkins and the winter varieties of squashes 
among the corn, and it is claimed that a 
good crop of pumpkins is gotten without any 
injury to the corn crop. In this case no fur- 
ther manure will be needed than that applied 
to the corn crop. Where these plants are 



STRAWBERRY. 103 

grown by themselves they will thrive with 
the same treatment as melons, but they pre- 
fer a stronger and more clayey soil than 
watermelons. Use per acre 1,600 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 5 per cent. 
Potash, 5 " 

Nitrogen, 4 " 

STRAWBERRY. 

Soil. — Strawberries want a rich, moist 
soil. One in which water is found at a depth 
of only a few feet, and which has a porous 
subsoil through which moisture can freely 
rise by capillary attraction, will be found 
an ideal strawberry soil. Water or moisture 
is of the first importance, and if a straw- 
berry plantation is situated so that it can be 
irrigated, far better results can be obtained 
than on land not so treated. Sandy loam is 
the best. 

Fertilizer. — The soil for strawberries can 
hardly be too rich, but heavy manuring with 
barnyard manures tends to make the land 
weedy; therefore, artificial fertilizers are 
preferable. Before planting apply 100 lbs. 
high grade sulphate of potash per acre. It 
is well to set the plants in rows four feet 



I04 STRAWBERRY. 

apart, and the plants one foot apart m the 
row. Turn manures in along the rows so 
that the row becomes matted with plants the 
first season. Keep land between rows well 
cultivated. The following spring apply per 
acre 1,500 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 

Potash, 9 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

Work these in by spreading between the 
rows and cultivating. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The straw- 
berry has been more improved in America 
than elsewhere. Years ago growers tried to 
raise the European Fragaria Vesca here, but 
gradually discovered that success here de- 
pended upon growing varieties suited to our 
climate. In the past twenty years so many 
fine seedlings have been raised from Amer- 
ican stock that are fully suited to our needs 
that none of the European sorts are now im- 
ported at all. Our own sorts are much 
superior for our climate. 

In selecting plants care should be taken to 
secure varieties of both sexes; failure to 
give due attention to this essential of straw- 
berry culture has frequently resulted in 
barren beds. If transplanted in August, a 



SUNFLOWER. 105 

crop may be harvested the following year. 
After the plants have borne one full crop in 
the second season from setting, plow them 
down for a crop of late cabbage or potatoes 
in same land, and set another bed every sea- 
son. You will thus always have a bed at its 
best each year. 

SUNFLOWER. 
Soil. — The sunflower is adapted to all soils, 
but will do best on deep, strong loam with 
plenty of moisture. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Sunflowers may 
follow any crop, and they come in well after 
a buried clover sod. Use per acre 500 lbs. 
of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 8 

Nitrogen, 3 * ' 

General Notes and Suggestions. — Sun- 
flowers should not be grown, as is commonly 
done, around fields, or between rows of other 
crops, as they are very exhausting to both 
fertility and moisture. The seed is a most 
useful fattening grain, particularly for sheep 
and fowls ; and from the seeds an oil is 
made which is said to be fully equal to olive 
oil for table use. 



Io6 TOBACCO. 



TOBACCO. 



Soil. — There is no crop grown which 
varies so much in quality, because of the soil 
upon which it is grown and the fertilizers 
used, as tobacco. For a leaf of high quality 
for smoking purposes, it is essential that the 
soil be light and rich in vegetable matter. 
A low, rich clayey soil will produce a rank 
and heavy crop, but will not produce tobacco 
of fine quality. 

The fine gold leaf tobacco of North Caro- 
lina, so highly prized for cigarettes and 
chewing tobacco, is grown upon a light 
gravelly soil. A red clay produces some- 
times a fine, rich mahogany-colored leaf of 
high value. Limestone soils, too, will pro- 
duce tobacco of high grade. 

Rotation and Fertilize?'. — The heaviest 
crops, though not the highest in quality, 
are grown after a crop of clover. The next 
year, with proper fertilization, the same 
land will bring a crop of higher value. p ot- 
ash is Oj! the utmost importance to this crop, 
which consumes large quantities of it; but 
in order to obtain a leaf that will burn well, 
all the forms of potash salts containing chlo- 
rine, such as kainit or muriate, must be 
avoided. Use only the pure sulphate of pot- 



TOMATOES. I07 

ash. Stable manure is preferably applied to 
the crop preceding tobacco, rather than di- 
rectly to the tobacco. Use per acre 600 lbs. 
of a fertilizer containing : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 

Potash, 10 " " 

Nitrogen, * 3/6 " " 

At the Virginia Agricultural Experiment 
Station, nitrogen in the form of dried blood 
gave most profitable results. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — As most 
tobacco is used for smoking purposes, the 
chief aim of the grower is to obtain a leaf 
with good burning qualities. Heavy loam, 
clay or peat soils will not do this. The plant 
being of tropical origin, a warm soil is essen- 
tial, and one with but moderate quantities of 
organic matter produces the leaf of finest 
texture. Rank organic manures, tankage, 
fish, etc. , must be avoided, as well as all ma- 
terials containing chlorine. 

TOMATOES. 
Soil. — Tomatoes are not particular as to 

soil, but for tne production of early fruit, the 

soil should be light and warm. For late 

tomatoes a heavy soil is best. 

Fertilizer. — The early crop grown South 

for shipment North should be well fed. On 



Io8 TOMATOES. 

an acre use 1,200 lbs. of a fertilizer con- 
taining : 

Available phosphoric acid, 7 per cent. 
Potash, 6 " " 

Nitrogen, 4 " " 

The tomato needs a good supply of readily- 
available nitrogen, but the nitrogen will not 
supply all its wants, and, therefore, good 
supplies of the acid phosphate and muriate 
of potash are needed. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — To get 
tomatoes early it is necessary to start early 
and sow the seed under glass, so as to have 
the plants well advanced by the time it is 
safe to put them in the open ground. The 
best plan is to start the plants in shallow 
boxes of rich soil in a greenhouse, or in a 
sunny window of a well warmed room. In 
any given locality the seed should be sown 
fully ten weeks before the time when it will 
be safe to transplant them in the open air, 
so that the planting will vary with latitude. 
As soon as the plants have developed the 
second set of leaves, transplant them into 
other boxes a little deeper, and plant them 
two inches apart. Three weeks before the 
time to set them out in the open air, transplant 
them in a coldframe four inches apart, and 



TREES AND SHRUBS IN NURSERY. 1 09 

protect with sashes at night and on cold 
days, but expose to the air at every favorable 
opportunity, so as to gradually harden them 
to the open air and make them stout and 
short. 

Plants treated in this way will transplant 
with ease, and come into fruit a month or 
more sooner than those sown in the open 
air. For late use and for canning it is only 
necessary to sow the seed in the open air as 
soon as the soil is warm in spring, and trans- 
plant when of sufficient size. In field culture 
the plants are set 4 by 5 feet apart, and cul- 
tivated like corn. In gardens where room 
is scarce, it is well to train them up in some 
manner. For this purpose nothing is better 
than the common galvanized wire netting 
sold for chicken yards, fastened to stakes. 
That three feet wide is sufficiently wide. 
Where there is plenty of room larger crops 
can be had by allowing the plants to fall on 
the ground. Where tomatoes are affected 
by blight, spraying with Bordeaux mixture 
will be found an efficient protection. 

TREES AND SHRUBS IN NURSERY. 

Soil. — For general nursery purposes a soil 
of medium texture, deeply worked and well 



IIO TREES AND SHRUBS IN NURSERY. 

supplied with decayed vegetable matter, is 
needed. A fertile clay loam, which has 
been well cultivated in grain, grass and 
clover for some years, and which has been 
for some years in sod, is in the best condi- 
tion to grow trees and shrubbery. 

Fertilizer. — If nursery stock is located on 
good soil, nitrogenous manures should be 
but sparingly used, as they tend to the pro- 
duction of a rank and sappy growth of wood 
which does not ripen well. The ashes of all 
hard-wooded trees abound in potash, and it 
is evident that they should be well supplied 
with this food, so that they can make that 
firm and well ripened growth which is essen- 
tial to their success in a cold climate, or a 
warm one, either. But the potash will hardly 
have its best effects unless an abundance of 
phosphoric acid is present. Use per acre 
600 lbs. of a fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 7 " " 

Nitrogen, 3 " " 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The land 
should be well and deeply plowed in the 
autumn previous to planting, and should be 
further deepened by running a subsoil plow 



TURNIPS AND VETCH. Hi 

in each furrow so as to break it fully fifteen 
inches deep. 

TURNIPS. 

Soil. — Turnips thrive best upon a mellow 
loam, fairly intermediate between clay and 
sand ; but fine crops can be made on any 
sandy land, well supplied with food. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — Turnips can fol- 
low after clover, lucerne, grain, and after 
grain fodder crops gathered early. 

As they are of quick growth, they need a 
liberal supply of nitrogenous food. Both 
cow manure and sheep manure are better 
than horse stable manure for turnips. If 
these are wanting, use per acre 450 lbs. of a 
fertilizer containing: 

Available phosphoric acid, 8 per cent. 
Potash, 8 

Nitrogen, 2 y? " 

VETCH. 

Soil. — Vetch succeeds almost equally well 
upon heavy or light soils, provided the drain- 
age is good, and the land not subject to 
drought. In the South it nourishes on the 
most sandy soils, and makes a wonderful 
growth on rich lands. 

Fertilizer. — Being one of the legumes, the 
vetch, like clover, does not need nitrogenous 



112 WHEAT. 

fertilizers. The same treatment recom- 
mended for crimson clover will do for the 
vetch. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — The vetch 
is a very useful plant for winter pasture in 
the South; but in the Northern States it 
should not be sown until spring. 

It does well sown among growing corn, or 
alone after corn is off. Vetches make good 
hay, but a very light product for the appear- 
ance when growing. 

WHEAT. 

Soil. — For winter wheat the best soil is a 
rather compact clay loam, thoroughly well 
drained. Soils of quite a sandy character can 
be made to produce fair crops of wheat by good 
culture. Spring wheat can be grown to advan- 
tage in northern sections of the country, and 
on lands so well filled with humus, and of 
such a moist character, that winter wheat 
would be thrown out by the frost. Heavy, 
tenacious, clayey soils are not adapted to 
winter wheat. 

Rotation and Fertilizer. — The best place 
in a farm rotation for wheat is after a crop 
of clover or Southern cow peas. Good crops 
can also be grown after corn or tobacco, but 



WHEAT. 113 

when wheat is the leading crop it should 
have the best place in the rotation. 

For winter wheat, if the preceding crop 
was clover or peas, no nitrogen at all need 
be applied in the fall ; but on most lands it 
may be found profitable to give a top dress- 
ing of nitrate of soda just before the rapid 
growth begins in spring. Another advan- 
tage in this is that the fertilizer containing 
phosphoric acid and muriate of potash needed, 
can, if intimately mixed, be readily applied 
with the drill at the time of sowing. If or- 
ganic nitrogen, as in cotton seed, is used, 
it should be applied at time of sowing. Use 
per acre 400 lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 
Available phosphoric acid, 6 per cent. 
Potash, 5 " 

Nitrogen, 3 ' s 

If nitrate of soda is to be used in the 
spring, we would leave out two-thirds of the 
nitrogen in the fall, and use 100 lbs. nitrate of 
soda in the spring. For spring wheat, apply 
400 lbs. of a fertilizer containing : 
Available phosphoric acid, 9 per cent. 
Potash, 5 " 

Nitrogen, 2 " 

For light soil increase potash in the first 
formula. 



114 WHEAT. 

General Notes and Suggestions. — There are 
many varieties of wheat, but the general 
treatment is the same for all. The preced- 
ing crop of clover or peas should always be 
mown or pastured off closely, and if to be 
followed by winter wheat, the soil should be 
broken deeply not later than August 10. 
Earlier would be better, for, while the 
breaking should be deep, it should be done 
early enough to get the remaining growth 
well decayed, and the soil settled into that 
compact condition favorable to wheat. All 
weed growth should be kept down, after 
breaking, by frequent harrowings and roll- 
ings, so that by sowing time the surface shall 
be fine and altogether free from clods. For 
spring wheat, the plowing should be deferred 
as late as possible in the fall before the 
ground freezes, so that frosts may mellow the 
surface and a single harrowing suffice in April. 

The time for sowing winter wheat varies 
from September in the northern part of the 
winter wheat belt to November on the 
southern limit. In the principal winter 
wheat sections, the ioth of October is gene- 
rally considered the best time. Spring 
wheat is sown as early as the soil can be 
worked in the spring. 



DISTANCES RECOMMENDED FOR 
PLANTING. 



Apples (standard). . . .20 to 30 feet each way. 

Apples (dwarf) 6 to 10 " 

Pears (standard) 20 " 

Pears (dwarf) 10 to 15 " 

Quinces. 12 " 

Peaches 20 to 25 " 

Plums 15 to 20 " 

Cherries 14 to 20 " 

Figs 10 to 15 " 

Japan Persimmons. . .20 to 25 " 

Mulberries 20 to 25 " 

Blackberries 6 to 8 feet by 4 feet. 

Raspberries 6 by 2 feet. 

Currants 4 to 5 feet by 4 feet 

Gooseberries 4 to 5 " " " " 

Strawberries : 

Hills 15 x 15 inches. 

Matted rows 4 x 1 foot. 

Asparagus 4X 2 feet. 

Rhubarb 4 x 2 " 

Grapes 8x9 " 

Oranges. 30 x 30 " 



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Approximate Average Analysis ef the Fresh Orange. 

By Prof J. J. Earle, Chemist Florida Experiment Station. 
The average is taken from 15 varieties analyzed by Prof, 
Earle. 

Weight of one Orange, in grammes, ... 203 . 4s 

" " " " ounces, ... - 7.27 

" " 44.000 Oranges, in ounces (being fair average 



yield per acre) 
Moisture, ------- 

Nitrogen, ------ 

Organic matter, exclusive of nitrogen, 
Silica, ------- 

Sulphuric acid, - 

Phosphoric acid, - 

Ferric oxide, - • 

Lime, ------- 

Magnesia, 

Potash, - - 

Soda, ------- 

Chlorine, ------ 



per cent. 



Quantity of Fertilizer in 1,000 Oranges. 

Silica, in ounces, 

Sulphuric acid, ------ 

Phosphoric acid, ------ 

Ferric oxide, ------- 

Lime, -- 

Magnesia, ------- 

Potash, - - 

Soda, -------- 

Chlorine, 

Nitrogen, - 



319.88 

87-33 
.121 

"•55 
.010 

.043 
.082 
.005 
.232 
.048 
.508 
.041 
.011 



•73 

3.10 

6.o« 

.41 

16.69 

3-53 

37.63 

3.02 

.82 

8-75 



Quantity of Fertilizer in 44,000 Oranges. 

Silica, in ounces, 

Sulphuric acid, - 

Phosphoric acid, ----- " 

Ferric oxide, - " 

Lime, -- - " 

Magnesia, " 

Potash, " 

Soda, 

Chlorine, " 

Nitrogen, -------- " 



32.12 

J 36.4 

264.88 

18.04 

734-4 

I55-3 2 

1655-72 

132.88 

36.08 

385 ■•• 



EXTRACTS 



ABOUT 



Potash Fertilization 



TAKEN FROM THE 



ANNUAL REPORTS FOR 1890 



OF THE 



Agricultural Experiment Stations 



UNITED STATES, 



INDEX. 



r\GE. 

Sarley iii 

Beans ............ iii 

Corn iii 

Cotton « x 

Oats . xiii 

Peas xiv 

Potatoes . ...... xiv 

Rye xvi 

Sorghum xvi 

Sweet Potatoes xvii 

Tomatoes xviii 

Wheat xix 

Potash as Insecticide ...... six 



BARLEY. 

Indiana. Exp. Station, Bulletin No. 33. Oct., 1890. 

In a system of farming, having in view larger crops and 
permanent improvement of the land, phosphoric acid and 
potash should be used in considerably greater amounts than 
the crops require, while nitrogen compounds should be used 
in amounts not greatly in excess of the needs of the crop. 

Exp. with Barley. 

Fertilizers were applied as top dressing 17 days after sowing. 
Complete fertilizers produced the highest increase of 12.28 
bushels per acre (total yield 21.5 bushels). Fertilization gene- 
rally increases the proportion of grain of a barley crop. 

Maine. Exp. Station, Annual Report for 1890. 

Clay Loam. — Experiments for the purpose of comparing the 
effect of soluble with insoluble phosphate and of stable 
manure with complete fertilizers. Stable manure produced 
the lowest yield of grain of barley. 

BEANS. 

Rhode Island. Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1890. 

The experiments were made with single fertilizing element* 
only, and not with combinations, as should have been. The 
application of sulphate of potash increased the average yield of 
twelve varieties 38.1 #, and the application of muriate of potash 
only increased the yield 20.4 %. 



CORN (MAIZE). 



Connecticut. Experiments by Mr. M. H. Dean, Lime 

Rock. 

Soil, light loam, with very little vegetable matter. 

320 lbs. of ?nuriate of potash together with 320 lbs. of nitrate 
of soda produced 44.4 bushels, that is, eight times as much as 
the unmanured plots, which produced 5.5 bushels on the 
average. The results of this experiment show that, in thi» 



iv CORN (MAIZE). 

case, nitrogen pla} T ed a most important part in the formation 
of seed, and that potash produced the most marked effect on 
growth of stalks. 

Exp. by Mr. R. S. Hinnson, Oxford. 

Potash produced the most marked effect. In every case 
where it was omitted, there was a heavy falling off in the 
yields, both of corn and stover ; both nitrogen and potash 
seem to be needed to produce a fair crop. 

Exp. by Mr. C. E. May, Woodstock. 

Soil, light loam, with a medium amount of vegetable 
matter, well adapted to the growth of corn; subsoil, fine yellow 
loam. 

Potash used alone had a more marked effect than phosphoric 
acid. About equally good results were obtained when each 
of these ingredients was combined with nitrogen. In this 
experiment nitrogen was clearly the regulating ingredient. 

Exp. by Mr. H. P. Loomis, South. Manchester. 

Soil, medium compact loam, with a reddish clay subsoil. 

The best results on this soil appeared to come from the. use 
of large quantities of the soluble phosphates together with ioo 
or 150 lbs. of muriate of potash, and about 25 lbs. of nitrogen 
from some readily available source. 

Exp. by Mr. J, H. Tucker, Lebanon. 

Soil, clay loam, having quite a large amount of organic 
matter; subsoil, tenacious clay, apt to be moist in wet seasons. 

Large quantities of phosphoric acid and small quantities of 
potash appeared to have given the best financial results on this 
soil. 

Exp. by Mr. E. H. Healey, North Woodstock. 

Soil, clay loam, with a compact clay subsoil. 
The largest yield came from the use of 500 lbs. of slag with 
150 lbs. of potash. 

Georgia. State Station, Bulletin No. 8. July, 1890. 

Soil, chocolate loam, underlayed by red clay. 

Nitrogen increased the yield materially, especially in form 
of nitrate of soda. The best results were obtained from mixed 
minerals, combined with a moderate dose of nitrate of soda. 



CORN (MAIZE>. v 

Kentucky. State Station, Bulletin No. 33. 

Soil, blue grass soil, limestone. The increased yield through 
the use of 160 lbs. of muriate of potash and 320 lbs. of nitrate of 
soda amounts to 39 bushels of corn per acre and 980 lbs. of 
fodder. The clear profit was $8.40 per acre. The results 
obtained this year are almost identical with those of the last 
two years, that is : 

(1) That in those plots where potash was one of the ingre- 
dients of the fertilizers used there was a marked increased 
yield, both in corn and fodder. 

(2) That in plot 15, where a fertilizer was used without 
potash, there was scarcely any increase in yield over those 
plots containing no fertilizer. 

(3) That the greatest increased yield was made by using a 
combination of potash and nitrogen. 

(4) That the use of muriate of potash alone resulted in a 
marked increased yield over the plots containing no fertilizer. 

(5) That there was a profit in the use of fertilizers in every 
instance where potash was one of the ingredients, the largest 
net profit arising from the use of a mixture of nitrate of sodium 
and muriate of potash. 

(6) That there was a loss by the use of fertilizers where potash 
was not one of the ingredients. 

(7) That so far, potash has shown its effect the third season 
after application. 

Massachusetts. Exp. by Mr. W. S. Phillips, Marble 

Head. 

Soil, fine gravelly loam. 

The results of the use of nitrogen and potash are quite 
similar in kind, though potash causes the larger and the most 
profitable increase. For this I should advise for corn a ferti- 
lizer rich in potash, containing materials to furnish about : 
Potash 80 lbs., nitrogen 25 lbs., and phosphoric acid 25 lbs. 

Exp. by Mr. Frank Wheeler, Concord. 

Soil, a good sandy loam, with almost sandy loam subsoil. 

Notwithstanding the high condition of the soil, the potash, 
wherever used, produced a very perceptible improvement 
from the first. These comparisons make it evident, that on 
this soil potash was the ingredient most needed, but it produces 
its most marked increase when used with nitrogen and phos- 
phoric acid, and more when used with either of these than 
when simply used alone. 



* CORN (MAIZE). 

Exp. by Mr. A. I>. Copeland, Bridgewater. 

Soil, very poor gravelly loam. 

The soil needed nitrogen, phosphoric acid send. potash; but the 
latter to a far greater extent than either of the others. They, 
if potash was also present, produced a considerable increase, 
but if it was absent only a very small one. The two together 
are almost powerless to increase the crop. Potash, on the 
other hand, even alone causes considerable increase ; with 
either nitrogen or phosphoric acid, the increase due to potash 
is doubled ; with both of them and potash the increase due 
to the latter is doubled yet again, amounting to no less than 
about seventeen bushels of corn per acre. 

Exp. by Mr. I. Brydon, Yarmouth. 

Soil, a fine sandy loam. 

Nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid were all needed. Each 
when used with the two others gives a larger increase than 
when used alone or with either one of the others. All are not 
equally deficient, however, but in order of necessity rank: 
Potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Potash effects the 
growth of stem and leaf to a remarkable degree. For this 
soil I should advise a fertilizer strong in potash and nitrogen. 

Exp. by Mr. Pling Moore, Worcester. 

Soil, good medium loam. 

The striking benefit of potash as compared with nitrogen 
and phosphoric acid is clearly brought out by these compari- 
sons. For corn on this soil I should recommend the use of 
fertilizers rich in potash and phosphoric acid and with a small 
percentage of nitrogen. 

Exp. by Mr. L,. W. West, Hadley. 

Soil, a heavy loam, with clayey subsoil. 

A gain of $40.46 per acre has been produced by fertilizers 
rich in potash. All through the season it was evident that the 
growth was far more benefited by potash than by any other 
element. These figures make evident in a striking manner 
the beneficial effects of potash. Alone, and in every combina- 
tion, potash produces a remarkable increase; but nitrate of 
soda, too, seems to have been required, for the combination of 
this with potash produces a much larger crop than potash 
alone. For this soil I am confident that the most profitable 
results would be attained by using light dressings of manure 



CORN (MAIZE) vii 

with a little quick-acting nitrogenous fertilizer and a con- 
siderable amount of potash 

Exp. by Mr. D. B. Dewey, New Lenox. 

Soil, a fine compact loam, inclined clayey and cold. 

In July the plots which had received potash appeared to be 
doing distinctly better than the others. These comparisons 
make it quite evident, that this soil most needed potash, 
which alone, and in nearly every combination, seems to have 
produced a profitable increase. Phosphoric acid does little 
or no good, while nitrate of soda, especially when used where 
there is potash, does produce a small increase. For this soil 
it is evident, that for corn a fertilizer should be rich in potash. 

Exp. at Station Grounds, South Acre, Amherst. 

Soil, a fine yellow loam, with gravel or sand at the depth of 
' wo or three feet. 

These comparisons make it evident that this soil still needs 
potash in greater amount than either of the other elements of 
plant food. The gain from its use alone on plot 4 amounts to 
no less than $14.66. Other plots gave larger crops, but no other 
equalled this one in point of profit on the fertilizer used. The 
result last year was similar; and it is true for both years that 
even if labor be taken into account, the plot where potash 
alone was used gave the largest net profit. In view of the 
results of two years' work upon this soil, I cannot doubt that 
with barn yard or stable manure it would pay to use muriate of 
potash for corn upon this land. If fertilizer only is to be used, 
I would recommend materials which would supply per acre 
about 80 lbs. of actual potash, 30 lbs. of phosphoric acid and 20 
lbs. of nitrogen in available form. 

Exp. on Station Grounds, North Acre, Ainherst. 

Soil, similar to the South Acre. 

The teaching of the results brought out by these compari- 
sons is plain. This soil most needs potash for the profitable 
production of corn, and this should be supplied to the full ex- 
tent used in our experiments. 

For corn on this soil the profit may doubtless be enhanced 
by using manure in small account, in connection with potash, 
rather than by large applications of manure alone. This plan 
is to be followed this year upon the general crop of the college 
farm. 



viii CORN (MAIZE). 

Exp. toy Mr. G. L. Cooley, Nortto. Half- Acre, Sunderland. 

Soil, alluvial formation. 

The indication is strong that the fertilizer for corn must be 
rich in potash to give profitable returns on this land. 

Conclusions. 

i. Our results show that soils differ widely in their re- 
quirements 

2. Potash, however, proves much more beneficial or proves 
much more largely beneficial than either nitrogen or phos- 
phoric acid. 

3. Potash as a rule most largely increases the yield of both 
grain and stover, but its effect upon stover production is 
greater than upon grain production. 

4. Barn yard manures are, as a rule, relatively deficient in 
potash, probably because of the loss of a large proportion of 
the urine, which contains about four-fifths of the total potash 
of the excretions. 

5. The relative deficiency of many of our soils may, I think 
be largely accounted for from the following facts : 

(a) Manure as a rule lacks this ingredient, as just pointed 
out. 

(b) Farmers, who have used commercial fertilizers have, as 
a rule, bought phosphates or fertilizers rich in phosphoric 
acid, and containing little or no potash. 

6. The relative deficiency of potash in so many soils, shown 
now by the results of the work of two seasons, I believe jus- 
tifies the following general advice. 

(a) In breaking up sod land for corn, particularly that which 
is in fair condition, but which has been under ordinary farm 
management, if fertilizers only are to be used, apply those 
which are rich in potash. Use materials which will supply 80 
to 100 lbs. of actual potash, from 25 to 30 lbs. of phosphoric acid 
and 15 to 20 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. 

(b) If a special corn fertilizer is to be used, apply only 
a moderate quantity, say 400 to 500 lbs. per acre, and use with 
it about 125 lbs. of muriate of potash. It is believed this com- 
bination will produce as good a crop as 800 to 1,000 lbs. of corn 
fertilizers, and it will cost considerably less. 

(c) With ordinary barn yard or stable manure for corn, use 
potash. I would recommend using about four cords manure 
and 100 lbs. of muriate of potash per acre. 



CORN (MAIZE). ix 

(d) For fodder or ensilage corn, use either in fertilizers or 
with manure one-fourth more potash than above recom- 
mended. 

Missouri. State Station, Bulletin No. 14, 1891. 

So far it appears from the trials that potash is the element 
most desired by the corn in our land. 

New Hampshire. State Station, Bulletin No. 12, 1891. 

The average chemical composition of fertilizers for New 
Hampshire should be phosphoric acid 9-1156, potash 9-15& 
nitrogen 2-4$; whereas fertilizers offered us in the market 
average, phosphoric acid 1156, potash 2.556, nitrogen 2.556. 
Formula recommended for corn: 

Dissolved bone black 325 lbs. 

Muriate of potash 100 " 

Sulphate of ammonia 75 '* 



500 lbs. per acre. 

Rhode Island. Station Experiment, Kingston. 

Soil, sandy loam. 

Mixed minerals as well as muriate of potash alone produced 
a large profit. The soil appears to be deficient in potash^ 
phosphoric acid and nitrogen ; potash appeared to be espec- 
ially lacking. 

Exp. by Mr. Courtland P. Chapman, Westerly. 

Soil, rich loam and slightly sandy. 

Potash produced the best results, and nitrogen the poorest ; 
it appears that the soil lacks available potash more than phos- 
phoric acid, though both are somewhat deficient, and that in 
general the application of any considerable quantity of nitro- 
gen was not profitable. 

Exp. by Mr. J. B. Vaughan, Nooseneck. 

Soil, poor sandy loam. 

Complete fertilizer produced the best results, nitrogen was 
the predominating element needed. Nitrogen, phosphoric 
acid, and potash were all lacking. Potash and phosphoric 
acid applied alone proved unprofitable, which was not the 
case when combined with nitrogen in the most available form. 



sv y COTTON. 

Exp. by Mr. H. Hartwell Jcncks, Liine Rock. 

Soil, dark loam. 

Potash was rnost needed (muriate of potash gave the largest 
profit), but also phosphoric acid and nitrogen. Potash appears 
to have been more deficient than phosphoric acid. 

Exp. by Mr. A. H. Tefft, Jamestown. 

Soil, black loam. 

In general the application of chemicals in this experiment 
increased both the total crop and net profits. 

Exp. by Messrs. Capwell and Tillinghast, Summit. 

Soil, light loam. 

The soil was most deficient in phosphoric acid. Potash and 
nitrogen seemed to be about equally deficient, and a combina- 
tion of the two produced large additional yields only when 
combined with phosphoric acid. 

Exp. by Mr. A. A. Sbernian, Davisville. 

Soil, medium loam. 

There was a deficiency of all three of the essential ele- 
ments, potash being apparently most deficient. The profits 
from the use of mixed minerals were good in every case. 

Exp. by Mr. Elmer K. Watson, Nayatt Point. 

Soil, black loam. 

Potash, more especially, and also phosphoric acid were 
chiefly laci ing. 
General results of the experiments : 

The Experiments 

show that there existed a wide variation in the fertility of the 
soils, and that cases of one-sided exhaustion were not of un- 
common occurrence. In four cases, at least, potash ap- 
peared most deficient, and it is interesting to observe that 
the two most marked cases of a deficiency in phosphoric acid 
were upon old pastures. 

COTTON. 

Alabama. Station at Auburn. 

The best results were obtained with a combination of 
iainit and phosphate ; T95 lbs. of dissolved bone black and 
150 lbs. of kainit, per acre, yielded, at a cost of $3.90, a clear 



COTTON. xi 

profit of $13.95, which is equal to 135$, and is the highest yield 
obtained from the use of artificial fertilizers. It is noted that 
kainit prevented or retarded the appearance of blight. . . 
Kainit causes the cotton plant to retain the leaves after they 
had blighted where none is used. 

Exp. by Mr. E. J. Beasley, Covington Co., Red Level 

P. O. 

Red sandy soil ; subsoil, clay. 

The best effects were obtained from a combination of phos- 
phoric acid, potash and nitrogen. Potash and nitrogen 
materially increased the productive power of the phosphoric 
acid. The three elements combined upon plot g produced 330 
lbs. of seed cotton per acre more than phosphoric acid and 
nitrogen without potash. The three combined produced 770 
lbs. more than the production of the unaided soil, as indicated 
by the average yield of the unfertilized plots. 

Exp. by Mr. M. A. Bishop, Madison, Madison Co. 

Deep red soil, with stiff, red subsoil. 

Phosphoric acid produced best effect if used in combination 
with potash and nitrogen. 

Exp. by Mr. It. H. Cross, Letohatcliie, Lowndes Co. 

Sandy loam, with yellow clay subsoil. 

This soil plainly needed all three of the elements, but the 
effect of phosphoric acid is less marked than usual, upon 
sandy soil, while that of potash is more conspicuous than 
usual. 

Exp. by Mr. J. A. Davison, Yantley Creek, Choctaw Co. 

Sandy soil with some lime, clay subsoil. 

The results of this experiment point to the need of phos- 
phoric acid, the effect of which is, however, improved by the 
addition of nitrogen and potash. 

Arkansas. Exp. at Pine Bluff. 

In comparing two fertilizer mixtures (one of them containing 
potash (hainit), that which contained potash produced, the 
better results. 

General fertilizers upon cotton : Kainit, 300 lbs. to the acre, 
produced the highest yield of any single or combined ferti- 
lizer. 



xii COTTON. 

Georgia. Exp. Station, Bulletin No. 10. 

Clay soil, shading into sandy land. 

The results indicate that the soil is deficient in both phos- 
phoric acid and potash, especially in the former on sandy 
portion, and in the latter on the clayey portion. Neither 
phosphoric acid alone nor potash alone gave as good results as 
when combined with each other. Nitrogen produced little or no 
effect, but very decided effects when mixed with phosphoric 
acid and potash. 

Louisiana. Station at Calhoun. 

The effects of potash is undecided for the reason that the 
plots not treated with potash were badly attacked by blight. 
Might not the presence of potash have acted as germicide to 
prevent this disease ? 

Mississippi. Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1890. 

Furman's formula, and a mixture of 250 lbs. of cotton seed 
meal, 50 lbs. of kainit and 200 lbs. of acid phosphate produced 
the highest yield, and a profit of about $11 per acre. In 1889 the 
greatest increase came from the plots which received 200 lbs. 
of kainit per acre, and this increase was secured at the 
smallest expense per hundred pounds, 53 cents. 

Exp. at the Holly Springs Station. 

Upland clay soil. 

Kainit alone produced a profit of $10.50. 100 lbs. of cotton 
seed meal and 100 lbs. of kainit produced a net profit of $21.60. 
The yields from these plots indicate very clearly the necessity 
for the use of potash fertilizers. Plot 4, which received 200 lbs. 
of kainit, gave much the largest as well as most profitable 
yield of any plot fertilized with a single ingredient, and a 
larger yield than did plot 6, where acid phosphate was sub- 
stituted for one half the amount of kainit applied to plot 4. 

Thin clay, upland soil (field No. 2) : 

160 lbs. of cotton seed meal and 40 lbs. of kainit gave the 
highest profit amounting to $15.28 per acre. 

Low land, quite sandy soil (field No. 3) : 

Experiment was not reliable, but kainit gave the best 
results of the single elements. 

It has been the uniform experience during three seasons 
that the purchase of concentrated nitrogenous fertilizers is not 
profitable ; that acid phosphate alone is only occasionally 



OATS. xiii 

profitable; that' potash fertilizers, either in form of kainit 
-or sulphate of potash, have always given a fair profit. We have 
.also found, that a fertilizer containing 1 a large percentage of 
J>otash with a smaller amount of phosphoric acid has invari- 
ably given a greater net profit than has any single commercial 
•salt. While good results have always been obtained by the 
-use of a mixture of potash and phosphoric acid salts, results 
hiave been still better when the soil has received a fair supply 
■of vegetable matter in addition. 

Prof. Connell's Exp. at the Station. 

Sandy clay soil ; 400 lbs. of kainit, used alone, produced 
the highest profit of $17.66 per acre. 

Holly Springs Branch Station. 

Light sandy soil. The indications of the entire soil are that 
such soil needs both potash and phosphoric acid as well as 
a liberal supply of vegetable matter. 

OATS. 

Connecticut. Exp. by G. A. Ross, Jewett City. 

A light sandy loam, with a sandy subsoil. There was quite 
an increase from the use of mixed minerals, and a still greater 
increase wherever nitrogen was applied. 

Indiana. Exp. Station, Bulletin No. 33, Oct., 1890. 

Fertilizers were applied 17 days after sowing; the largest 
yield was from complete fertilizers, and produced an increase 
of 11.50 bushels per acre ; a total yield of 44 bushels. Fertili- 
sation generally increases the proportion of grain of the oat 
■crop. The grain lodged more on those lots which received 
commercial fertilizers. 

Massachusetts. State Station, Annual Report for 1890. 

The results obtained left no doubt about the fact that our 
farmland had been in an exceptional degree impoverished in 
potash in consequence of a too close rotation of grass and 
corn. In the majority of cases where muriate of potash has 
furnished the potash, the manuring of the crop was somewhat 
later than when sulj. hate of potash was used. The plots con- 
taining potash magnesia sulphate, as the potash source, yielded 
the largest amount of grain. 



xiv PEAS AND POTATOES. 

Rhode Island. State Station, Annual Report, 1890. 

Mixed chemicals were compared with commercial fertilizers. 
(Horsefoot's Guano), the fertilizer as well as the guano pro- 
duced a large increase of grain and straw, but mixed chem- 
cals were superior to the commercial brand. 

PEAS. 

Maine. Exp. Station, Annual Report, 1890. 

Soil, clay loam. 

The highest yield was obtained from bone black and. 
muriate of potash, and at the least expense. 

POTATOES. 

Connecticut. Exp. by Mr. M. H. Dean, in the Housa- 
tonic Valley. 

Soil, light loam, somewhat sandy, with a light loam subsoil. 
Nitrogen produced very little effect, which is attributed to- 
an insufficient supply of potash in the fertilizer. More potash- 
may have been needed to meet the deficiencies of the soil.. 
The mixed minerals gave a large increase, raising the amount. 
from 137 bushels per acre on the unmanured land to 218. 
bushels per acre upon that fertilized with minerals. 

Georgia State Station, Rulletin No. 8, July, 1890. 

The results seem to warrant the conclusion that a fertilizer- 
containing all the food elements in the same proportion and 
in available form, as a good stable manure, gives the largest, 
increase, and that incomplete fertilizers, while they show a 
gain over the unfertilized plots, are not remunerative. A. 
quick growing crop like the potato, which has only a short 
time in which to mature, cannot be grown successfully un- 
less a bountiful supply of all the elements of plant food is. 
provided ; that is, the greatest yield is obtained where the? 
soil contains an excess of all the elements of plant food in 
available form over and above the requirement of the plant. 

Maine. Exp. by Mr. O. B. Keene, of Easton. 

Potash and ammonia produced a large increase of potatoes, 
in this experiment, which is interesting in showing the re- 
markable effect of commercial fertilizers on some soils. The 
average of the plots receiving no fertilizers was 132 bushels 



POTATOES. xv- 

per acre. The average of the plots receiving nitrate of soda, 
and muriate of potash was 262 bushels per acre. Here the 
crop was doubled by adding 150 lbs. of nitrate of soda and io> 
lbs. of muriate of potash. The cost of the chemicals in this. 
case was $5.50. The extra cost of 130 bushels of potatoes was. 
about 4.2 cents per bushel. The use of acid South Carolina rock: 
costing $5.50 caused an additional gain to that made by the 
nitrate of soda and muriate of potash, of 65 bushels, at a cost of 
8 cents per bushel. 

Massachusetts. State Station, Annual Report, 1890. 

The records were destroyed by fire ; following statement 
was made from memory: It appears that the special potato- 
fertilizer in the market furnish too small a portion of potash^ 
It will pay to use them in moderate quantities, if at all, in con- 
nection with sulphate of potash for the heavier, and muriate of 
potash for the lighter soils. 

New Hampshire. State Station, Bulletin No. 12. 
• March, 1891. 

The records are those of previous experiments and indicate- 
that potash is the most needed in the soils, that were tested,, 
and that commercial mixtures of fertilizers contain a too smalL 
percentage of potash. In this experiment one dollar invested, 
in the best combination of fertilizer gave an increase worth 
seven dollars ; one dollar invested in manure gave only $3. Co- 
increase, and $1.00 invested in commercial brands of fertilizers.. 
an increase of $4.20. Every new test adds to the probability of 
the correctness of my position, relative to the need of vastly 
more potash than our fertilizer manufacturers give us. For- 
mula recommended for potatoes : Dissolved bone black 340 
lbs. and micriate of potash 160 lbs. per acre. 

New Jersey. State Station, Bulletin' No. 80. March, 

1891. 

Experiments were made in three locations, all in Middle? 
Essex County. Good results were obtained with mineral 
manures alone, while the best profits resulted from a mixture; 
of chemical manure with barnyard manure, yielding a profit, 
of $68.91 in one case ; kainit was less effective than muriate or 
sulphate, and S7tlphate did not produce a larger yield than 
muriate of potash. Nitrate of soda did not prove a valuable 
fertilizer for potatoes. Sulphate of potash produced the best 
results as to quality. 



xvi RYE AND SORGHUM. 

New York. Geneva Station, Annual Report, 1890. 

Special experiments with. potash and nitrogen. 

These results indicate : i. That for potatoes muriate of 
jpotash is a good safe fertilizer, even on some clay soils, where 
potash may be said to be present in considerable quantity, 
vs. That while potassium sulphate helps the crop, it is far less 
effective than the chloride, and not desirable when chloride 
•can te obtained. 3. That the application of nitrogen in 
.sodium nitrate and ammonium sulphate has been beneficial on 
some plots, but always at too great cost for profit. 

Rhode Island. State Station, Annual Report, 1890. 

Phosphoric acid was most needed ; muriate of potash in 
combination produced nearly twice as much as sulphate of 
potash in combination. The great difference in yield in favor 
of the muriate is worthy of note, but additional work is neces- 
sary to substantiate results. 

RYE. 

Rhode Island. Third Annual Report, 1890. 

Potash did not increase the amount of straw, but produced 
-a heavier yield in grain. Potash increased the gain of grain 
"two or three fold. 

SORGHUM. 

Arkansas. Third Annual Report, 1890. 

Effect upon contents of sugar. Kainit alone and in com- 
bination produced an increase of sugar from % t o ^ %. 

The indications. are strongly in favor of the conclusions: 
That application of hai/iit had a beneficial influence upon the 
amount of sugar in the canes and juice. 

Without exception muriate of potash has noticeably in- 
creased the total yiel 1 per acre . . . The results secured 
from similar experiments on sorghum at Rio Grande, Cape 
Hay Co., during 1885, 1886 and 1887, corroborate the above 
statements in nearly every particular, and admit of the con- 
clusion that potash is the element which exerts the most 
marked effect upon the yield of sorghum and upon the pro- 
duction of sugar. 



' SWEET POTATOES. xvii 

SWEET POTATOES. 

Arkansas. Exp. at the Newport Branch Station. 

Kainit used alone produced the highest profit, amounting 
"to $25.50 per acre. 

Delaware. Exp. by Mr. Manlove Hayer at Dover. 

Potash used alone yielded an increase of 79 bushels per acre. 
The adjoining plot shows that nearly $40 per acre was gained 
by the use of $4 worth of potash. 

Exp. by Mr. John Dager at Camden. 

Taking all things into consideration, the muriate of potash 
'gave potatoes most uniform in size and best all around 
for the market, and the probabilities are that Mr. Dager would 
succeed best by selecting the muriate ; financially $4 worth of 
this salt yielded $24 worth of product. 

Test with Scarlet Clover as Green Manure and Fertilizer 

Of any single element potash yielded the largest returns. 
•Of the combinations, scarlet clover, potash and phosphoric 
acid, costing $8 per acre, returned $52 worth of potatoes. 

Exp. by 3ir. Chas. "Wright near Seaford, Sussex Co. 

That story is that unfertilized ground can produce 41 bushels 
of sweet potatoes per acre, but that, with an excess of potash, 
the same ground could produce 105 bushels, a gain of 64 
bushels, worth $32, for an expenditure of $4. Both phosphoric 
acid and nitrogen increased yields, but relatively to a very 
trifling extent ; the presence or absence of potash determined 
the crop. 

Conclusion. 

On the practical outcome of the series, the results are posi- 
tive enough. Dropping all theories they stand as follows : 
Muriate of potash when used alone at Dover returned $10, at 
Camden it returned $6, and at Seaford it returned $8 for 
«very dollar invested in its purchase. 

Georgia. Bulletin No. 10, December, 3 890. 

Red clay soil, with clay subsoil. 

The best results were obtained with a mixture of 320 lbs. 
of superphosphate, 360 lbs. cotton seed meal and 640 lbs. of 
kainit, or in place of kainit, 160 lbs. of muriate of potash. Tha 



xviii TOMATOES. 

value of increase above the cost of the fertilizer varied accord- 
ing- to the variety of potato from $37.43 to $102.83 P er acre- 
The cost of fertilizer was $10.27 or $9>4° respectively. 

Conclusion. 

The yield of sweet potatoes is governed by the amount of 
potash in the fertilizer. A fertilizer, as in the experiment, 
analyzing 8% phosphoric acid, 3$ ammonia and io# of potash y , 
is the most effective for sweet potatoes. 

New Jersey. Exp. by Mr. G. E. Farry, Farmingdale». 
Monmouth. County. 

Very light, sandy soil. 

Complete fertilizer produced a profit of $30.05 per acre 1 
nitrate of soda was not beneficial if used alone. 

TOMATOES. 

Arkansas. State Station, Third Annual Report, 1890. 

Nitrate of soda produced the best effect, while kainit, used 
alone, yielded a profit of $20.50 per acre ; after nitrogen, in 
sodium nitrate, potash seems to be the most efficient in in- 
creasing the yield. 

Delaware. Exp. by Mr. John Heyd, Near Felton, Kent 
County. 

Neither alone nor in combination with phosphoric acid and 
potash did the nitrate of soda prove that it caused an increase 
sufficient to pay for its purchase and use. If a profit results. 
from any application, it must be credited to the mix- 
ture of phosphoric acid and potash. At $6 per ton of 
tomatoes, the amount of said increase would be $15 ; the cost 
of the application would approximate one-half of said sum.. 

Georgia. State Station, Bulletin No. 10, 1890. 

The results indicate that mixed minerals with larger rations, 
of nitrogen are productive of the largest yield and greatest 
earliness. The effect of nitrogen depends upon the presence, 
of the mineral elements, phosphate and potash. 

Maryland. State Station, Bulletin No. 10, 1890. 

Potash appeared to increase the crop more than either of 
the other elements of plant food, and nitrogen stood next in 






WHEAT, AND POTASH AS INSECTICIDE. xix 

this respect. Nitrate of soda and muriate of potash can be 
recommended as special fertilizer for the tomato. 

Summary by the Director. 

Potash alone, asmuriate, gave good results, better than some 
mixtures. Phosphoric acid had little effect on the quantity of 
the crop. Nitrate and muriate of potash can be recommended 
as special fertilizers for the tomato. Potash fertilizers seemed 
to decrease sugar and increase acid in the tomatoes. All 
three fertilizing elements increased these same elements in 
the fruit. The vines and roots of the tomatoes are very rich 
in potash. 

WHEAT. 

Kentucky. Exp. by Mr. Anderson, Jeffries, Glendale, 
Hardin Co. 

This indicates that fertilizer rich in potash would be best on 
this land. 

Exp. by Mr. J. W. Stringer, Franklin, Simpson Co. 

The addition of potash to bone meal produced an increase 
of 4 bushels per acre. 

Exp. by Mr. J. W. Netherton, Prospect, Jefferson Co. 

It seems that acid phosphate, cotton seed meal and muriate 
of potash protect the plant to some extent from winter freezes. 

POTASH AS INSECTICIDE. 

New Jersey. Bulletin No. 66, March, 1890. 

According to the experience of many farmers, potash salts 
are very effective as insecticides, destroying grub and cut 
worms, scales on peach trees, cabbage maggots, plant lice 
and corn-root louse. By experiment it was shown thatpotash 
salts, preferably kainit, was very effective in killing insects, 
while not inj urious to the plants. 

Ivain it Against the Rose Chafer in "Vineyards. 
Bulletin No. 82, July, 1891. 

Either late in the fall or early in spring land should be 
plowed and top-dressed with kainit. 

Potash has been heretofore known only as a fertilizer of 
very high grade. Experiments made by me during the past 



xx POTASH AS INSECTICIDE. 

year prove that it has a high value as an insecticide as well. 
It is effective against plant lice of all kinds, against many naked 
larvae and against the wire worms on potatoes. It also kills 
cabbage maggots. 

Though I have tested it principally on overground insects, 
yet its greatest field of usefulness is against those pests that 
live in the ground or about the roots of plants. In localities 
in which corn is infected by cutworms, etc., a heavy dressing 
of potash before planting will destroy almost all insects 
in the ground at that time. For the corn-root louse 
I have no doubt this will prove a perfect remedy. Where 
potato ground is infested with the wire worm, a heavy dress- 
ing with kainit will bring relief. Peach orchards that are 
infested with the black peach aphis on the roots, can be 
renovated by the use of this same substance. On bringing the 
matter to the attention of farmers, many have been able to 
recollect that with the use of potash certain insect troubles 
ceased ; but they had not heretofore credited the potash with 
this result. This item is especially recommended to peach 
growers in South Jersey. The kainit is preferable to the 
muriate as an insecticide. 






Professor Wagner 1 s experiments, showing that 
leguminous plants draw their supply of nitrogen 
from the air. 




i 2 



Potash and phosphoric acid without any nitrogen 
produced a large crop of peas, while the addition 
of nitrogen to the mineral fertilizers showed very 
little effect. 



Professor Wagner's experiments, showing that " green 
manuring^ -with leguminous plants can supply all the nitrogen 
needed by a succeeding crop. 





Xi 



^0 js. 

<3 <o 



§8 



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^ V «c 
« ^ "3 
, "Vl <s 

- -is 

8 8 



■5"*- 






Experiments made at the Rhode Island Experi- 
tne?it Station on beets, showing the effects of lime 
on sour soils. 




SULPHATE OF AMMONIA, 
WITH LIME. 




wmmrnmn t< % $£*#• @lfJ 



* ^ 



SULPHATE OF AMMONIA, 
WITHOUT LIME. 



With lime, a luxuriant crop was produced; 
without lime, it was a total failure. 



Experiments made at the West Virginia Ex- 
periment Station, showing the effect of potash upon 
potatoes. 




z o 
< 5 



is 

* a. 






The unfertilized land produced at the rate of 
86 bushels per acre. Where kainit and acid phos- 
phate were applied, the yield was 248 bushels of 
potatoes per acre. 



Experiments made at the Alabama Experiment 
Station, showing that potash will cure red rust in 
cotton and largely increase the yield. 




NO FERTILIZER. 



POTASH AND NITROGEN. 



The use of potash and nitrogen upon cotton pro- 
duced an increase of 225 per cent. (429 lbs. of cotton 
per acre, against 132 lbs. where no potash was used.) 








M 



m 



_ 



« S 



*^-s 



J5 s 



Experiments by Mr. E. Lierke, of Germany, upon grapevines on poor 
sandy soil.— The ExperimeJits illustrate the predominant effect of potash 
and nitrogen upon grapes; they also show that phosphoric acid must be 
used in addition, in order to obtain the best yields and quality. 



'xperiments made on Corn at the Massachusetts Experiment Station. 




^H&Tf^y 




' - Vs.** ♦. 



Acid phosphate and muriate of potash {without nitrogen) produced 
a large increase in yield. 



Experiments made on Corn at the Massachusetts Experiment Station. 



"• ^ J*-** ' - ^ -"fie*? ^L. 







Chemical Fertilizer produced as large if not a larger yield than 
Stable Manure. 



y^. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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